Hoppy Holidaze

Brace yourself. The holidays are amongst us…

As we wrap up 2021 and journey into 2022, some of us face some of the hardest times of the year. Thanksgiving and Black Friday have come and go, while Christmas is right around the corner. I wanted to take this moment to offer some words of encouragement to those who are typically alone during this part of the year. Those who coax through these holidays on a steady diet of alcohol, drugs, and bitter emptiness.

Everything is going to be okay…

Far too often do we give into our temptations to rid the mind of years of hurt or loneliness through the worst outlets. This year for the holidays, I challenge you to think differently. Instead of thinking about the have nots, think about your “blessings,” so to speak. If you can’t think of any, maybe because you’re on the pessimistic side of life right now, below is a few, to start your list.

1. You’re Alive: Most people take this for granted. Waking up each day is a beautiful thing. Sure, going through the motions of life might be challenging, but the afterlife doesn’t seem like a healthy alternative. As much as we wish we weren’t here sometimes, the world is actually better with you. Contrary to drunken belief, someone out there cares about you. There will always be 101 reasons to focus on the negative side of life, but sometimes one positive thought is all we need to be thankful for.
2. You’ve Come This Far: You may feel like the world is against you, but look how far you’ve come! People throw in the towel everyday, but not you. You’re here, reading this random ass blog post, and that says enough. Most of us have been to some pretty dark places and have had to endure to wild shit, but we’ve persevered through it all. I say we, because I can relate. My life wasn’t perfect and I’ve had plenty of thoughts of tapping out, but here I am, 31 years old still trying to figure shit out. The beauty of each day is finding a way to make each day better or more productive than the last. Fortunately for you, there’s still time to turn things around. Better late than never!
3. Substance Abuse is a Temporary Fix: Drowning our sorrows in the bottom of a Hennessy bottle doesn’t fix the pain. It’s a temporary fix, which I’d argue only makes things worse. Drugs and alcohol tend to amplify the pain, as it makes your brain focus more on trying to forget than anything else. Let’s be better this year. Let’s find healthy alternatives like going to the gym, doing yoga, or journaling. Let’s seek professional help! There’s a huge stigma on mental health. I call bullshit. Good mental health is important for all of us, and there’s nothing wrong with a professional helping you get to a good place. Your life, relationships, and work performance may all improve if you work harder than your demons.

By no means necessary am I an expert on anything, but I am human. As I too struggle with the difficulty of holidays, I can only try to lift up my fellow brothers and sisters. Let this serve as a message of encouragement. Cheers (water in my glass), to a better today and future.