All over the world people are looking forward to celebrating holidays in the second half of December. Some are religious, such as Hannukah or Bodhi Day. Some are not, such as the Winter Solstice and New Years. And of course we have Christmas which can be both.
But not everyone has family to celebrate with. Some people have moved across country for work or school and don’t have the time or resources to travel. Some people are estranged from their family for any number of reasons. Some people have outlived all of their family members.
If you hear someone saying they have no one to spend the holidays with, regardless of your/ their religious affiliation, I ask you to consider inviting them to join your celebration. Sharing a festive meal is something anyone can enjoy and something everyone deserves to experience.
They may decline your invitation. If they do, perhaps you can suggest meeting for coffee or something smaller. Even if they say no to anything you suggest, there is a 99 in 100 chance that they will appreciate your offer and that that small gesture will make the season a little brighter for them. And isn’t that what this time of year is all about?