Is The Holiday Spirit Within You?

It does not matter your religious affiliation or what you believe—the holiday spirit is in every one of us.

Each year, I look forward to the holiday season. It brings me great joy, and I look forward to it every year. However, this is also a time that increases my anxiety.

Let me give you some background regarding what exactly I mean.

The Holiday Spirit Lives In My Childhood Memories

I have memories of my childhood, but they are both few and far between.

My clearest and dearest memories comprise my family’s Christmas traditions. Some of these traditions I still practice today with my family. The holiday spirit always made its way into my home.

Christmas Eve, we would drive around looking at Christmas lights. We all put on our pajamas and drove around—sometimes for hours.

From our Christmas light driving excursion, we drove home. Each of us opened up a present and we read the Christmas story in the Bible. We also watched or read A Christmas Carol.

My sister, brother, and I always left some cookies and a glass of milk for Santa. I remember each year trying to stay awake, so I could hear Santa. It never failed. I always fell asleep before I heard his footsteps.

The Holiday Spirit Christmas Morning…

In the morning, my parents hung a sheet to hide the opening to our family room. They tacked a sheet to the ceiling so we could not see the tree and all the goodies Santa brought for each of us. This built upon our growing anticipation while we ate breakfast.

After breakfast, my parents took the sheet down and it was the first time we took in all that Santa had delivered. First, we opened up our stockings. Next, I organized all the presents into piles for my mom, dad, sister, brother, and myself. One person opened a present at a time. I always took the time to say thank you and give a big hug.

It usually took us hours to open all the presents. I always tried to go as slow as I could to draw out the experience as long as possible.

The traditions of my family will always hold a special place in my heart. For me, following family tradition was an important part of the celebration.

Feeling the holiday spirit meant more to me than a material present. The holiday spirit originated within me back when I was a child. It still lives within me to this very day.

The Holiday Spirit And Living With Bipolar Disorder During The Holidays

As I grew older, my life drastically changed.

The symptoms of my bipolar disorder slowly intensified.

My first major mood episode that resulted in a hospitalization occurred at the start of my sophomore year in college.

As time passed, I found a pattern to the fluctuating periods of my mood. As the season changed from summer to fall, I generally fell into the depths of depression. My manic symptoms increased during the early spring.

I have learned over the years to permit myself to feel my emotions not only during the holiday season but throughout the year as well. I do my best to allow myself to sit with my feelings and emotions. Then I let them pass and move on. It takes practice, but I guarantee you feel more in control of yourself.

When I was younger, I did everything in my power to avoid my feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and other emotions that accompany depression. To me, it was the worst feeling in the world. I tried my hardest to repress those feelings, and it worked for a while. However, it came back a 100 fold, and I was forced to confront all those perceived negative emotions. Depressed, I utilize my coping skills and talk to someone.

Last Thoughts

To me, the holiday spirit is not merely about feeling happy and joyful. It is about being around those you love and experiencing your yearly traditions.

The gift of giving and sharing is priceless. Sharing traditions, a cup of eggnog, or a simple conversation is the essence of the holiday spirit.