'Tis the season... or not.

[StroppyChops]

Ever wonder about all the people who seem to enjoy the Christmas season?

If you're anything like me, Christmas brings a whole lot of pressures and memories that make the 'happy season' a struggle rather than a good time. Mrs Stroppy and I both lost a parent at Christmas, and for me childhood memories resurface.

This is our first Christmas in our new home country. While we've been overseas numerous times for Christmas in the past, this time it's a little bit different. Actually, it's a whole lot different. Just the two of us for a quiet day, no presents under the tree as we're buying a couple of 'us' things together, no big party. We might head out for a Christmas lunch or dinner somewhere, but our major observance is that we're taking Christmas and Boxing Days as holidays from the frantic pace of setting up business.

The other day I was outside GSM with a colleague (who doesn't post, but some of you love to hate), providing some chaplaincy among the 'tourists' who flock to that area. Nothing religious, and certainly not judgemental, just a listening ear (think Salvation Army or military chaplain if that helps) and I met a guy who just needed someone to talk to. He'd already paid for his intimacy, a few times to hear him tell, and found that it didn't fill the need for compassion that led him there in the first place. It quickly turned out he was in the Kingdom without a return strategy, and was considering going home in a box. I may not have mentioned it here before, but my father suicided at Christmas after the pressures of the festive season became too much for his mental state - he had issues, and his little sister had just been brutally murdered. So this is a pretty key topic for me - Christmas, depression and suicide.

Here's a genuine offer.

If you're in Phnom Penh, you get depressed at Christmas (or any other time), and you ever want someone to take the time to sit and hear your story, or just fill the barstool beside you and sink a few, without judgement, criticism or bible-bashing - message me.

A couple of topical links:
http://www.webmd.com/depression/feature ... r-holidays
http://www.wingofmadness.com/depression ... val-guide/

[Satiated Parrot]

[Duncan]

Don't want to be judgmental about the subject as everyone has the rights to their own beliefs, but why do people even celebrate xmas ? Has it got something to do with religion, if so why do people celebrate it but never go to church. Why do we give presents on Christmas day, but never think about giving on any of the other days of the year. I think it has got a lot more to being brainwashed by commercialisation . I have always tried to make 25 th of December just another day and in doing so I will have no special '' dinner '' just the same as other years it will probably be baked beans, and eggs on toast.

[Yobbo]

Bah humbug!
Thought i would cheer myself up 1 xmas & decked out a Chrissy tree with all the lights & bling.
Ended up with only 1 present underneath & it was from me, really depressing! Humbug.
The gift is in giving so you may be in for a lot of gifts.
Stroppy you do look a little like Santa!
Anyway hope it is a Merry xmas to all.

[OrangeDragon]

Don't want to be judgmental about the subject as everyone has the rights to their own beliefs, but why do people even celebrate xmas ? Has it got something to do with religion, if so why do people celebrate it but never go to church. Why do we give presents on Christmas day, but never think about giving on any of the other days of the year. I think it has got a lot more to being brainwashed by commercialisation . I have always tried to make 25 th of December just another day and in doing so I will have no special '' dinner '' just the same as other years it will probably be baked beans, and eggs on toast.

For me I don't celebrate the religious aspect, I celebrate the concept that it's a day for spending with family... which i think is what it's come to symbolise for most non christians.

Festivus for the rest of us.

[Soi Dog]

I have always tried to make 25 th of December just another day and in doing so I will have no special '' dinner '' just the same as other years it will probably be baked beans, and eggs on toast.

That is a strange post. You feel the need to "always try" to make December 25th just another day? Why try? If some holiday doesn't have any significance to you personally then that's fine, but why put any effort in trying not to enjoy it? You seem to take some pride in not attempting to enjoy it, as if to say "I am planning to eat a bland meal fit for prisoners on December 25th just to show how normal and unspecial a day December 25th really is."

[phuketrichard]

Xmas is not the merry time it was in the past

1. without my daughter
2. Boxers day this year, is the 10th anniversary of the Tsunami

[Sailorman]

Good on you for the offer of a kind ear. If there is a heaven, you should get a free pass.

[UKJ]

Good on you for the offer of a kind ear. If there is a heaven, you should get a free pass.

Agreed. Sounds like SC has enough negativity to deal with, yet still offers to help.
I have a couple of friends with issues just now, and at times I don't answer the phone as it's a chore to listen to them. I think my patience is taken up dealing with a relative with some sort of alzheimers, which I find exhausting, and guilty about finding it exhausting. I should maybe point out I take the friends elderly, and difficult mother to her husbands home, shopping and out for dinner, as well as sitting with my own relative. So I don't sound a total bastard!

[StroppyChops]

Good on you for the offer of a kind ear. If there is a heaven, you should get a free pass.

Agreed. Sounds like SC has enough negativity to deal with, yet still offers to help.
I have a couple of friends with issues just now, and at times I don't answer the phone as it's a chore to listen to them. I think my patience is taken up dealing with a relative with some sort of alzheimers, which I find exhausting, and guilty about finding it exhausting. I should maybe point out I take the friends elderly, and difficult mother to her husbands home, shopping and out for dinner, as well as sitting with my own relative. So I don't sound a total bastard!

You sound like someone with finite resources (time, stamina) and competing demands but enough empathy to still give a damn. Should be more like you. Happy Christmas, UKJ.