Feeling festive? Like it’s the most wonderful time of the year?
The festive season air is heavy, with the pressure to be, and look your happiest. There’s the expectation that you will dress up, show up and party away.
I’m not quite there yet. I may not get there at all.
I’m mindful that many people wait the entire year for the festive season, and plan their days carefully so they can make the most of the holidays. I’m not going to burst their bubbles, or should I say baubles! They have every right to eat, drink and be merry!
But, all I feel is heavy.
I feel heavy, psychologically and physically. It’s the cumulative effect of the tumultuous past two years in South Africa.
Pandemic life is at the top of that list, because COVID-19 is still with us – in fact I know many people who are currently in isolation and others who recently tested positive. Given my auto-immune condition, I have to take extra precautions.
Life in KZN has been tough – I’m not only talking about the floods, water-shedding and load shedding. We are still reeling from the impact of the July 2021 unrest – that trauma runs deep.
So too, does the trauma of the many disturbing cases of gender-based violence, of women and children who will no longer be at the dinner table this Christmas. What makes me literally feel sick, is that many were killed by men they knew, men they once trusted.
Perhaps all these weigh down more heavily on me as a journalist. I simply cannot shake it off.
Like the weight I’ve gained.
I have seen many posts on social media recently about people dreading the questions about weight this festive season. You never know what people are really going through and why they have put on weight. People may not be brave enough to share their health, and other, challenges on social media. I know I’m not.
So let’s cross “weight” off that conversation list this festive season. While you’re at it, you can cross out marital, financial and work status too. Let’s avoid the anxiety, and focus on creating a peaceful and caring atmosphere.
I wrote about this earlier in the year, and here’s your festive season reminder – be kind.
The Dalai Lama sums it up perfectly – “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”
