Christmas doesn't suck...but right after it kind of does.

 
Full disclosure:  This is going to be me venting. 




  
  For me and most of my friends, three weeks ago was a wonderful day.  It was French Christmas.  That is the start of real deal Christmas celebrating, and boy do I love it.  I was like a pig in shit that whole week.  Family and friends and all the things I mentioned in another post about how much I love Christmas.  That Monday the 29th, I had the worst case of post holiday blues I think I've ever recorded.  But, the following week still isn't real life.  Most people still aren't in my buildings at work, my manager was gone and NYE was still something to be excited about.  But after that?  There isn't any other time of year where there's such an abrupt return to reality. 
  It didn't help that the Monday after all the holiday cheer was the start to the coldest, nastiest few day stretch we have had this winter.  It was a real kick in the teeth.  Tenants were taking down, or had already taken down their decorations.  On the drive to work, I drive past a commercial florist that had a 30 yard dumpster full of garland and old trees.  That served as a symbol.  "IT'S OVER.  WELCOME TO TWO MONTHS OF HELL." 
  The rest of that week was spent as a constant battle with myself not to fall into a deep depression every time I saw still standing Christmas decorations, or a lingering Christmas song popped into my head. And to boot, now that the busy time of the holidays had past, it really sunk in how much I missed my grandma Ellie.  Who for the first time in 28 years wasn't part of my Christmas.  I've made it to today and I think I'm out of the woods as far as the post holiday blues goes.  As long as I don't go stir crazy and make it to April, everything will be ok. 
  I used to think I was in the minority as far as how I felt after the holidays.  I thought; "Maybe I only feel that was because I like Christmas so much..."  But it turns out, way more of my friends feel the same way than I thought.  It also turns out way more of my friends are back on the holiday bandwagon than I realized.  It was pretty much general consensus that December rules because it's busy and full of fun stuff, and that's why it's so miserable when it's over. 
  As one of my friends put it; "it's just a feeling of dread".  Time seems to move slower, there's not much to look forward to.  And the weather?  It sure is weather.  Today would have been a lovely big flake snowfall on December 22nd.  But on January 13th it's a kick in the shins. 
  You might be thinking, 'What's this wing dings point here?'  Really I'm just griping.  And feels good that someone else might read this and relate.  But also, know you're not alone in feeling bummed out.  Know you can gripe about this with your buds if it makes you feel better.  And most importantly, know that there's stuff you can do to make it suck less. 
  A lot of people have told me that planning something fun for the spring helps cope with winter blues.  And they're right.  But even easier than that, just keep busy.  I'm guilty of letting the winter hold me down, and letting myself be a sad sack. Being cooped up inside tends to do that to me.  Find something you want to do an just do it at least once a week.  Anything from the gym, to a trivia night at a bar.  Just do something to break up the time.  Sorry, I'm done giving you advice you didn't ask for. 
  Point is, post holiday blues/winter blues sucks.  But it sucks for all of us.  Now that it's mid January, lets all just start the countdown until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training.  Thanks for reading my whining.