If you’re going to be home alone this holiday season, you’re not the only one. So many people either don’t get along with their family members, or they’re focusing on their addiction/mental illness recovery and don’t feel ready to go out and about yet. For some reason, there’s this stigma that being alone for the holidays means you’re unloved – but that has nothing to do with it! Life happens, and sometimes holiday plans with others just don’t pan out. Rather than beating yourself up this holiday season, you need to embrace the fact that you’re going to have some truly magical days indoors – which means you can spend some time doing things that really make you come alive!
One person shared the reason why they chose to celebrate the holidays alone via the Seattle Times. They stated, “I could cook what I wanted when I wanted. I could stay in my pajamas all day. I could nap on the couch with my dog. I didn’t feel obligated to go anywhere or do anything. It was so freeing.”
Yes, it’s possible to have an incredibly relaxing (or adventurous) holiday all by yourself, but it’s really up to you to embrace it. There are so many other fun things you could do, such as:
- Singing and dancing to your favorite tunes (without worrying about anyone watching!)
- Sleeping in (who doesn’t like that?!)
- Trying to cook a new recipe
- Helping others by volunteering somewhere
- Hosting a sober holiday party with others in your recovery community
- Zoning in on a craft or activity you’ve been meaning to get to
One of the most important aspects of recovery is perspective, and that’s because what you allow into your mind is what follows through in your actions and life experiences overall. If you fill your mind with the endless possibilities of what this holiday alone could bring, you are setting yourself up to have an excellent day. It’s not about making the most of it, either – it’s embracing the fact that you don’t need to have the “picture-perfect”, family-filled, laughs and conversations around the table in order to have the best holiday ever. By celebrating alone, you’re actually able to skip all of those pesky conversations about the weather, politics, jobs and more – and what could be better than that?
Enjoy the holidays this year by making it a day of self-care. You won’t regret it.
Cumberland Heights is a nonprofit alcohol and drug-addiction treatment center located on the banks of the Cumberland River in Nashville, Tennessee. On a sprawling 177-acre campus, we are made up of 2 12-Step immersion campuses, 12 outpatient recovery centers and 4 sober living homes. We believe that each person has a unique story to tell – and that’s why we always put the patient first.
Call us today at 1-800-646-9998 to take the next step towards your happiness and health.
