The Other Side is Snowing, Another side is Raining

We all have been going through hard times since the day pandemic started, approximately in March 2021. The year I graduated online, started my first job, meet other people, and did stuff. Massive change in our lifestyle, habit, and also decision. Even though I have gone through Christmas and New Year in Pandemic season for the second time of the year, this time it hits all totally different.

It is clear for me that not all people enjoyed the same Christmas as they used to be, only a few groups or maybe not that I actually aware, that many people still managed to celebrate it the same way or even better.

In 2022, the government decided to cut national holidays, and most Indonesian workers can only have permission to be absent on 24th December on Friday, but not on 31st December on Friday also. Many of them are forced to stay productive in front of their bright, blinking machine at home, or even at the office. Although some people actually managed to travel and leave their job behind or somehow, find a way to deal with it.

Even sadder, my best friend once told me that there was a girl who sang an original song in her church on Christmas night about spending another Christmas very far away from their family. Deep down in my chest, I can feel the pain.

During this still on fire pandemic thing going on, my family decided to not go anywhere either, because my whole family spreads across Java and Bali island. My family is not a risk-taker, and my sister is still working anyway, so celebrating Christmas with other families is not our option. Somehow I feel grateful, somehow I feel sad. I won't go into detail but I will tell you why.

While I am trying to not be rotten in this holiday season besides other people that are having their best, I checked around other people on social media, to know how they deal with this situation. Apparently, I am not alone, even some are worse than me.

Some people have to celebrate Christmas far away from home and family, some people are spending a great time with the big family.

Some people have really, really, missed their loved ones so bad from far away distance, some people are joining their soulmate's family in Christmas.

Some people can't celebrate Christmas with family as the way they should because of family or marriage issues that are still not getting better, some people finally get their family back together as a whole.

Some people can not celebrate because of money issues, some people have plenty of food at Christmas dinner party.

Some people spent their night crying in bed, depressed and, sad, while some people had the time of their lives at Christmas.

Yes indeed, not only me that assumes this is probably the worst Christmas I have ever experienced. Many experienced the same, and even worse, but no one can ever expect this either. When I was little, I thought nothing can go wrong in Christmas eve. It is everybody's favorite month of the year. But as I grow up, the perspective changed.

And because of that, I haven't posted anything related to Christmas on social media, because I do not want other people to get sad and reminded by reality.

If you read this, I am still grateful you still have a great Christmas celebration. I do.

But if you experienced the same as I do or as I mentioned above, you're not alone. Talk to someone you trust, If there is any, talk to a psychologist and there is nothing to be ashamed of to do that.

Thank you for reading,

Hope our days are getting better soon,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year :)