I have to downsize this year, but so far it doesn't bother me. I am eliminating some off my card list, because no response for a couple of years, and since moving to ND have lost contact with many. Too far for relatives and some friends to travel to me, but they expect me to travel to them. One way roads!!! I try not to worry about gifts, cards etc because I am having to cut back/ There are too many other things to enjoy. At 82, just enjoy where I live and the many new friends I have made at my place.

You have a great attitude! I bought cards this year but realized I bought to many. Oh well, I'll have them for next year. I don't think people send as many cards as they used to. I like the old fashioned cards and not emails. But happy to get either kind.
Things sure change as we get older. For some of us anyway.
Thanks for the reply.

I'm having an issue with staying logged in here for some reason.

the older I get the more names that are crossed off with a "rip"...and some it's the only way we keep contact. but for blues? not really...
mari it's a shame your family hasn't discovered your state...maybe offer your home as a Christmas in the summer with a trip down to mt rushmore...

I bought many "after Christmas sale" cards past years so I am probably set for life since I send very few now, at 67. I always write a little note inside, but, year after year, I get cards with just a signature written, or printed...and these are relatives or friends, not mere aquaintances. Kind of lost the heart for continuing that.

I'm with pekemom..... I always take the time to write a note with each card I send, but I always receive cards with just a signature. :p

Holiday Blues??? Not so much, but "cold weather ones" and just 'winter ones' , Oh Yeah. This current early 'arctic freeze' is just a warning of the long winter to come. Gosh, I don't like it.

The clouds and rain (when I see them,) do it for me; they put me in a sad or foul mood.

Missy_May

I think holidays tend to bring out the blues. I have some good family stuff going on, and some not so good.
But I've decided that I'm not going to let the actions of others knock me down, so am just concentrating on things that make me happy.
I'm sorry you are blue. If you were next door I'd go get you and try some of my tried 'n true blues chasers:
A long bicycle ride
Baking something yummy
Shopping for a new small item of makeup/clothing.
I hope things look up for you soon.

I'm sad that you have the holiday blues. It does break my heart to know that I won't have as many guests on the holiday. In my family so many of the older family members are in poor health or have died. I don't send as many cards as I used too but the ones I send I always try to write a little note. I also include a photo of my grand children. Been doing this for years. I look forward to the visits and cards. I am lucky to have several members of my family near by. I love seeing the younger ones. We still put up a tree and get many of our holiday decorations out. Sshh don't tell anyone they will think we are nuts but I have had some of my mini hallmark ornaments out since last year they are in a wooden tree and hang in the box. So I'm either early or late this year.
Mary

Missy_May I live on my own. One daughter just 17 miles away, the other an eight hour drive. Most of my family lives overseas.

No, no blues. Not even because of the cold... it just slows me down, and keeps me inside.

Lucille, no bike ride here... it is 36 right now, with a possible "high" of 30 for today. We are expecting snow.

Snow would be lovely for the tiny about of moisture it gives us, but also not nice, to drive on.

I am invited to breakfast out, with bike club members... and I will drive there, cause I don't think the roads can get bad that fast.

The blues stay away pretty good, only twice since I struck out on my own (after divorce) and both times I reminded myself how much nicer life is really now, solo, and managed to get myself back out really quick.

Good luck for getting out of your funk.

Moni

PS, saw gone girl yesterday. All by myself. No pity here... I totally enjoyed being out.

I get in a funk about the holidays some years. This year I'm still in pretty good spirits.

Not sure what is causing your blues. I developed an attitude a few years back where I started looking out for me. It really helped a lot.

Keep giving thanks for what you have......I don't focus on what I don't have. :0)

I still have things I look forward to doing and my husbands soooooooooooooo positive and happy....no blues here!

Actually, I'm having the opposite.... what color would that be?!

It snowed for the first time the other night and everything is still covered in white. The gardens have died back and luckily I got all the critical garden jobs done right before the snow started. :) It's very cold for the time of year and puts me in the mood for baking!

Haven't done cards in years. The holidays are no longer special for me. It's exhausting and expensive. Bah humbug...sorry folks.

I used to enjoy the decorating and some of the cooking stuff and have fond memories. That's enough for me and I'm thankful for my simple life.

I'm feeling pretty optimistic this year, sorry you are feeling down. Exercise is a great mood elevator. I don't usually bake much for the holidays because I really don't like to, but both of my kids are overseas and I think I will bake them some Christmas goodies. They are meeting each other and some other friends in Budapest for Christmas, so I know they will be surrounded with love and happiness, even if it's not mine.

Through the years I was feeling a bit stressed with the holidays~~I stopped sending out cards, I only do about 5-6. DH does his own. I changed the way I do gifts, not cutting them out just making it easier. Gift Cards for all, then I do a theme style gifts for the guys and the gals, so much easier than finding just that right gift for each person. We have 2 small Gkids and they give us a list of what they would like and I choose from that.

I had to start making it easy for us or stop doing it~~now I am quite comfortable with what we do. I am sure we will change it here and there as we age~~

Thanks for all the replies. Like I said this is kind of a first for me. I will still decorate as usual. I think I've been listening/watching to the Hallmark movie channel to much. Holiday overload or something.

There are more empty chairs at the table than what used to be. But change is inevitable. Grown children have to make their own holiday memories now..as it should be.

Weather doesn't bother me in fact I actually like a little snow. I wouldn't like to be snowed in for more than a day though. Exercise is always a great idea. I need to get to it.

For sure, this holiday season will be a very sad time...Two weeks ago, we lost one of our sons from complications following heart surgery in April....For 6 months he suffered with one thing after the other until there was just nothing else they could do...Along with being broken hearted, we are at peace knowing he's no longer hurting...But not having him here is a terrible, terrible loss......

I like what you do yoga lady. I think I just might have to steal that idea. Sounds a lot less stressful. That's what always stressed me out,finding the
right gift for each person for Christmas. Just one question.....please explain
theme style gifts you buy? Thanks,

Maybe do something that you like doing. Visit an upbeat friend (but maybe not too "upbeat" ... or you might be even bluer, tomorrow). One who's good at providing sunshine that brings out sunshine in the others around her/him.

If you're religiously inclined ... some groups hold a service during the Christmas season called "Blue Christmas" which some who are unhappy, have lost a loved one, etc. find helpful. Often I go, and last year after the meeting a man who hadn't been involved with our congregation but whose wife had been opened his heart to us after the service, and I'm sure felt better after ... but hasn't continued.

I'm not big on "gift cards" that take my money, useful in 3,000 stores in town ... and give me a card of "equal value", i.e. worth the same number of dollars ... but good in only one store in town. Should be some reciprocal benefit for me or the recipient, I figure.

And some of them dang cards charge an "activation fee" - I saw one the other day for, I think it was $20.00 ... that charge a $3.95 activation fee.

That's worse than the "payday loan" and their skinning ways.

ole joyful

SunnyDJ~ so very sorry for your terrible loss.
I don't know what else to say as words are just not enough. :(
(((Hugs)))

Thank you, everyone.

Holidays are absolutely not the same.

Sometimes I cry I miss those days so much.

Neither of us has family here, so it's just the two of us.

I will put up some kind of tree and some decorations, but it's not like the old days.

I have a friend who is gathering donations for blankets and warm clothes for the homeless, and I've been getting things together for that.

It's even an effort to get things to my GK in California. I don't even know them. Sad.

jean used the word "effort", that's the key. Moods can be controlled but it takes an effort. Make your own joy and happiness by doing things and being with people that energize you. If there are things in your life that displease you, make the effort to change them. It does work.

In that same vein, jean, if your family members can't come see you, you should go see them.

Gosh, Snidely. Wouldn't that be nice? Now, if I could just find someone hold my job for me, pay my bills while I'm gone, and buy my plane ticket! Oh, and if some spending money could magically appear in my bank account, that would be awesome!

I basically live paycheck to paycheck. I absolutely cannot take time off from work without losing my job. So, the simple solution of going to see them is out of the question.

Clubm~~I call it a themed gift, I give all of the girls the same thing and same with the guys. Maybe for the girls PJ's and slippers~~StarBucks gift cards and travel coffee mugs for the guys. Once the guys got beer mugs and a fancy beer I found on vacation. I got fancy jellies for the girls last year, also on vacation. I bought them small bowls and gave them each one of my small silver spoons for the jelly. We give every one a gift card to where ever they want, I usually attach them to a bottle of a StarBucks drink~~this year I bought at CostCo rain umbrellas for guys and gals I will attach gift cards to that. I went to one of my fav stores for a cheese and wine party last Friday night, I bought canvas bags for the girls and a fancy hand lotion and a very cute ornament made with wire and pearls.

The girls are very easy to pick a gift out for, guys not so much. I always shop on vacation~~I also know a gal that does stained glass, she does a show every year, I have something I bought for the girls there last year~~I have given them each a piece for several years now either at Chrsitmas or for their bdays.

I used to stress out with gifts~~spending way too much and trying to even out the amount I gave every one. This is my formula now, a GC attached to something fun (last year it has head lamps, also from CostCo) But, sometimes it is just the SBucks drinks and once a small can of soda. I give everyone an ornament~~this makes me a bit nuts trying to find something that suiits the person. Then I give them each what ever is my guy/gal theme gift~~so far it is easy peasy, thoughtful and they love it!!

I am always looking a shop year round~~using things for bdays and Christmas~~I have bags in a closet with each persons name on it~~I can pull together a gift ASAP for almost anyone. I also shop the sales after each holiday and buy things to give my girls for that hoilday the next year ;)

Yoga lady.... Thank you for answering my post. Great idea!!! I will do the same thing this year. Ask my children & their spouse's where they would like
a gift card to and buy sometime small so they have something to open. I also have 3 grandson's 9,5,3 yrs old. Christmas is for the little ones. I will check
with the parents on gifts for them also. Thanks again for making Christmas less stressful. :-D

jean, even on modest budgets money can be saved, it's a matter of resourcefulness and priorities. I've never heard of a job that provides NO time off, not even the possibility of taking a long weekend for a family visit. That's got to be hard to deal with all by itself.

Maybe it's foolish of me, but I'm going to guard the thought that what makes this trip not likely for you is that you've decided it's out of the question. Maybe some day you'll reconsider your view. It's good to have goals that are a big stretch. Most people surprise themselves with what they can do.

I hope your situation improves before too long. In the meantime, Gmail and Skype video calls are free.

Yes, Clubm we do more on our two little grandkids~~we also have 2 adult gkids~~~they get the same as the other adults. Now the adult gkids are bringing BF/GF's. SHEESH so I had to think about what to do with them~~~I give them a small amount on a GC and I will attach it to whatever I am putting everyone elses GC on~~~so that means if I am buying ahead I have to always buy 2 extra in case. Then what the heck do I do with the 2 extra if there are no GF/BF's there;)

I am not as stressed as past years, but I am thinking way ahead now~but that saves me from stress and $$$

At this time of the year, I do not get 'holiday blues', instead, I get 'pocket book blues' because my living costs go up and cold weather makes it difficult to handle problems. If the furnace quits, it has to be attended to in the next few hours where
as in non freezing weather, one has more time. Emergency furnace service comes with a bigger cost than normal.