![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Fi on December 15, 2004, at 16:29:11
With various consumer forms, there is a box you can click if you dont want further mailings. Or the various standard forms.
I was thinking today how great it would be if there was some routine form with a box you could tick next to:
'Opting out of all the Chistmas celebrations. Will see the various members of my extended family, who I usually see all together at Christmas, at other time(s) in 2005'And that this was an acknowledged routine, and your family/friends/colleagues would accept it as no big deal.. Lower stress option. I know some people like Christmas, but its such a shame its 'compulsory', at least in mainstream cultures (Christian or just general no religion).
People who dont join in are often pitied and/or seen as weird. Unless you go on a wonderful holiday!Some religions have a much more relaxed and sensible approach.
But it shouldnt need an expensive holiday, or to be a member of a non-Chistian religion, to be 'allowed' to just let Christmas go by..
Anyway, very best wishes to those who do find Christmas and the holidays an enjoyable time. And to the rest of us, we are not alone. And it will be over in a fortnight, and we can do what *we* want to do (crash out on the couch and catch up on the good TV I've taped, in my case!)And some parts probably wont be too bad.
And the difficult bits dont necessarily go on long. I've calculated there will be 2 family parties and me cooking Christmas lunch for elderly parents. Which total about 6 hours, in 3 separate chunks.
Fi
Posted by littleone on December 15, 2004, at 19:55:45
In reply to 'Christmas opt out clause'..!, posted by Fi on December 15, 2004, at 16:29:11
Actually, I have "opted out" of Christmas this year. Kinda disowned my family for a while.
Posted by justyourlaugh on December 15, 2004, at 20:34:45
In reply to 'Christmas opt out clause'..!, posted by Fi on December 15, 2004, at 16:29:11
just got an email from one of my brothers..expecting me and my family to be there christmas eve...
not not not..
how do you tell people ...can rarely get the kids to school..and you want me to do what?...
if i felt well enough to socialize..i would still be sitting near the tree with my family...
?
j
Posted by octopusprime on December 15, 2004, at 20:57:54
In reply to 'Christmas opt out clause'..!, posted by Fi on December 15, 2004, at 16:29:11
i'm not flying back to my parents' house this year.
i didn't fly there last year either.
sorry mom and dad but i don't feel like spending $800 to be bored out of my skull for 4 days.
i did send them a nice gift though. same for my uncle. shipping cost and arm and a leg but hey it's only money.
i only approve of holiday parties that involve drinking and me playing with toys. being bored stiff with ritual does not count.
Posted by Tabitha on December 16, 2004, at 0:38:55
In reply to 'Christmas opt out clause'..!, posted by Fi on December 15, 2004, at 16:29:11
Don't be afraid.. try it! I've been opting out of most of Christmas for years. I opt out of holiday travel, obligatory gift buying, and spending the day with people I don't particularly enjoy just to avoid being alone.
I did find that opting out can go too far-- if I don't do anything to observe it, then my inner child feels deprived. So I try to find a balance. This year I got enthusiastic about my lighting display, and sending cards, but I don't think I want to do gift shopping or elaborate cooking (even for myself).
Posted by fi on December 16, 2004, at 12:09:31
In reply to Re: 'Christmas opt out clause'..!, posted by justyourlaugh on December 15, 2004, at 20:34:45
If I find its just too complicated when people dont/wont understand, I use 'diplomatic flu'. No-one argues with staying at home with that! It can be exhausting trying to educate people about depression (and why should you have to!)
It works as long as they dont live near enough to come over and expect you to actually have flu!
Fi
> just got an email from one of my brothers..expecting me and my family to be there christmas eve...
> not not not..
> how do you tell people ...can rarely get the kids to school..and you want me to do what?...
> if i felt well enough to socialize..i would still be sitting near the tree with my family...
> ?
> j
Posted by fi on December 16, 2004, at 12:10:48
In reply to 'Christmas opt out clause'..!, posted by Fi on December 15, 2004, at 16:29:11
Thanks, all! Nice range of comments and thoughts. Inner child definitely will do some playing- maximal fun, minimal duty?!
Fi
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Social | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.