Commentary By: Olivia Armstrong, Follow South Jersey Staff
Single for holidays? Everyone’s worst nightmare. Either you are experiencing the holidays alone or you went through a breakup right before the holidays. It is never easy.
As a college student being surrounded by relationships is one thing, but going home to a family of couples, watching Christmas movies, decorating the house or cookies is hard to see when you are grieving a relationship or have never experienced that type of love.
Families asking you where your plus-one is and explaining to them you are single and that you want to focus on school is a tough situation. Either they understand or they are helicopter families and ask every little detail and worry that you are depressed and, in reality, you just want to be alone and it’s peaceful for you. Seeing your friends or other people on social media celebrating during this season is difficult as well. Couples will make gingerbread houses and gather gifts for each other. Supporting that friend and taking them to the store with you is one thing but after that you realize you have no one to shop for is very difficult.
Yes, we have our family but not all families are perfect. There are many different aspects that go into the holidays that some people do not experience. Holidays always seem happy and go lucky like they are in a Hallmark movie. But for some people the holidays are the most stressful time of the year. Having to map out where you will be for the holiday. It is not easy.
But being in a relationship during the holidays is just as stressful, planning gifts and times to see each other while also managing seeing your own family, taking time off of work/school and if it’s a new relationship, meeting their families for the first time, no matter what the holidays will always be stressful single or taken.
I have been single throughout most of my holidays and as enjoyable as it is spending quality time with my family, not stressful and just it being the holidays it also brings a level of sadness. To be surrounded by all of these happy couples while I am alone is tough, but I just keep telling myself it isn’t as happy and easy as it seems. Every relationship brings trouble and struggles and something I have realized is as a college student that is something I cannot seem to handle myself right not as I have my own struggles and things to deal with along with many others.
It is hard, but it is a choice I made as an adult, and I am happy and content with being by myself, but this is hard for everyone else as well, so when someone shows up to the table, it is better not to ask and just be happy they are there with a smile on their face.
In a long story short, it is not any easier being single during the holidays. Not having someone to confide in and talk to during this time is frustrating and upsetting, but manageable.
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