The Inquisition
Dealing with your family -- and all of their questions -- this season
Who says being single for the holidays is a drag? With no one to drag along with you, this holiday season just might be your best yet. Here are five reasons you should celebrate dodging the mistletoe.
Shop (Treat Yourself)Marketing and consumerism aside, this time of year will forever be evocative of shopping malls and gift shops, which can be cause for celebration in itself. As long as you're careful not to overextend your resources (spending sprees on credit will only leave you feeling Scroogish later) a little extra leisure time at the mall can garner the gifts and the lift that you need. Recent evidence links shopping to happiness--claims of its efficacy range from improving your mood to satisfying your libido--and good will and generosity also send a surge to your reward centers. So take some time and your wallet, and get yourself a massage and something shiny while you search for those perfect somethings. You deserve a celebratory gift or two, and shopping for friends and family will remind you of how very connected you are.
Deck the HallsBeing unattached is no excuse to keep the walls sterile this year. Even if you're going out of town for part of the holidays, decorating your space is a way of affirming that celebration doesn't wait until you join others to kick in. You--just you--are worth celebrating. Plus, you'll never have more creative license. With no one around looking over your shoulder, you're the sole proprietor on what kind of what goes where. Exercise your good taste (or eccentric preferences!). It doesn't have to be lavish, intricate or time consuming, but find a way to make your space and your time is festive.
Do it Your WaySingle in December means the reigns are all yours. Celebrate your freedom to choose how you celebrate. It's all about your family, your wants and the functions, foods and agenda you choose. If you're looking to hook up, those parties with your friends of friends of co-workers are great opportunities to meet new people. Just don't succumb to the pressure to partner off in honor of the season. Flying solo is a celebration in its own right. And since you're defining what that season means to you, it's the perfect time to start some new traditions that are all yours.
Hit the TownFor starters, you can ring in a new tradition with a night out on the town. If the holidays are about acknowledging how very many things we have to be grateful for, why not go out into that world and collect a few more? Grab some friends and hit a favorite joint or two. Get out in the streets and take in the lights. Celebrate your playfulness, your friends and all the new faces you'll run into because you chose to be adventurous and available. You can always come home and listen to carolers later.
Make Plans As liberating and independent as single life can be, around the holidays most of us feel the pull to be with others. Between the never-ending soundtrack of Christmas songs, the multitude of gatherings around us and our own memories of holidays filled with people and noise, it never feels like a good idea to separate this time of year from company and celebration. When your coupled friends are busy with their S.O.'s and family, it's more important than ever that you make plans, too. Surround yourself with friends, coworkers and family. Phone calls are OK, but dinners and gatherings are better, and the earlier you lock in your plans, the easier it will be to avoid conflicts with the multitude of holiday schedules. If you're worried about looking needy, let that go; your friends and family will be grateful you reached out to them.
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