{"id":13632,"date":"2024-11-20T01:24:25","date_gmt":"2024-11-20T08:24:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/2c63d44e-9abe-11e8-99ad-ca52c1e5b2af"},"modified":"2024-12-30T13:36:40","modified_gmt":"2024-12-30T20:36:40","slug":"11-ways-to-have-a-miserable-holiday-season","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/blog\/11-ways-to-have-a-miserable-holiday-season\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Ways to Have a Miserable Holiday Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

If I had a quarter for every time in the past week I\u2019ve exclaimed, \u201cI can\u2019t believe it\u2019s November!,\u201d I\u2019d be probably just a quarter shy of buying myself a venti Pumpkin Spice Latt\u00e9 from Starbucks. So allow me to state the obvious one more time: \u201cI can\u2019t believe it\u2019s November!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

As I walked down the aisles of my local Dollar Tree last week,\u00a0small decorative pumpkins, tablecloths adorned with acorns, faux evergreen garland and Christmas stockings lined the shelves. November is here, which means the holidays are practically upon us. <\/span><\/p>\n

Now is the time to begin preparing our hearts and minds for the holidays. But here\u2019s the thing: Christian checklists about holiday preparation have become a bit clich\u00e9. So, to switch it up, I thought I\u2019d share my how-to list for a miserable holiday season. I hope you find it enlightening. <\/span><\/p>\n

1. Compare yourself to others<\/a><\/strong>. Holidays are the prime time to either feel sorry for yourself or become proud over what you have when you look at others around you. <\/span><\/p>\n

2. Think your struggle is unique.<\/strong> Holidays usually highlight some of the frustrations and disappointments of our lives because they mark time and remind us of the change (or lack thereof) in our lives. Believe that no one has ever felt the way you have. Wallow in that feeling of isolation.<\/span><\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Spend a lot of time on social media.<\/strong> This will isolate you and heighten feelings of comparison. Who doesn\u2019t want more of that?<\/span><\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> Stop reading the Bible and praying, and skip church if you\u2019re too tired.<\/strong> The holidays are busy, right? When something needs to be cut from your schedule, obviously the Bible, prayer and corporate worship should go first. <\/span><\/p>\n

5.<\/strong> Only hang out with people like you.<\/strong> Sure, Jesus\u2019 coming may have done a lot to break down barriers with folks unlike us. But why should we get uncomfortable over Christmas? Just hang out with folks like you and have fun.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Form unrealistic expectations.<\/strong> Be the <\/span>Clark Griswold<\/span><\/a> of your holidays. Idealize everything about the holidays, be drastically disappointed when it doesn\u2019t work out, then take it out on those you love.<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Expect to be offended at family dinners.<\/strong> Go into the holidays ready to be irritated and annoyed<\/a>. Maybe you\u2019ll be asked about your lack of a significant other. Maybe you\u2019ll be asked about your lackluster job. Or perhaps a political or religious issue will come up. Definitely go into your family gatherings with your armor on and ready to fight.<\/span><\/p>\n

8.<\/strong> Constantly think about what you should be getting.<\/strong> Nothing makes a holiday go downhill faster than dwelling on all of the things you\u2019re not getting, whether that\u2019s a party invite, a gift from a family member or a chance to visit around the table instead of helping clean up the kitchen. Dwell on those things.<\/span><\/p>\n

9.<\/strong> Don\u2019t embrace the wonder and festivity of the season. <\/strong><\/span>Jesus-juke<\/a> at every opportunity.<\/span> Complain and grumble about the commercialism of Christmas. Be a Scrooge.<\/span><\/p>\n

10.<\/strong> Fill your calendar to the brim.<\/strong> Believe that you can do it all. Don\u2019t take time to rest. Bake all the cookies. Attend all the parties. Make all the Christmas crafts.<\/span><\/p>\n

11.<\/strong> Don\u2019t think about <\/strong><\/span>the implications of the Christmas story<\/a><\/strong>.<\/strong> Leave the story in the neat tidy Children\u2019s Bible with the smiling faces around the manger. Ignore the startling message that Jesus became man and dwelt among us in a physical body, eating with sinners and tax collectors, remaking our broken world through miracles, dying for our sins, then resurrecting. No need to dwell on that and let it convict you of sin and apathy. Stay comfortable and complacent.<\/span><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know how my holidays will go. I obviously hope to avoid the aforementioned list, but as I prepare this season, my to-do list is pretty darn simple:<\/span><\/p>\n