The Saddest Time of the Year

Jamál (Beauty), 15, Masá’il (Questions), 173 BE - Sunday, December 25, 2016 AD about 1:05 PM Pacific Standard Time. 

It's the holiday season 2016 which many people believe is the happiest time of the year. It isn't! For many people Christmas and the winter holidays bring depression and tears. There are many reasons for this; indeed, each depressed person has his or her own reason for feeling that way. Some of us have issues from our childhood that we can't let go. Some of us are missing relatives (siblings, spouses, parents, grandparents, children, or lovers) who have died. Some of us have a combination of reasons for our sadness, but all of us feel the some sort of depression or brown study around the holidays. 

Whatever causes our depression most of the time we put on a "happy face" so that we don't bring other's down during this time of year. We pretend to enjoy the festivities that bring others so much joy. In doing this we hope to find a reason to celebrate by pushing our reasons for being depressed to the side or deep into our subconscious. This doesn't help us overcome the feelings of depression. This doesn't help us enjoy the festivities. 

I turned 70 years old yesterday, December 24, and in doing so I had an epiphany. I realized that hiding the reasons for my depression during the holidays only makes it worse. Not facing the issues that cause my depression doesn't help let go of the past that haunts me all the time during the holiday season. As much as I don't want to burden others with my darkness, I can't keep the reason for my depression secret any longer therefore I will attempt to write about it. In fact I've already written about it today in my writing.com blog. Which is where I will make most of the entries about my depression.