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As I drove back to Pepperdine after winter break, I realized that it didn’t feel like a vacation at all. Indeed, Christmas Day had visibly passed on the calendar. However, the atmosphere was missing something of the usual.
Wasn’t there enough joy and excitement radiating from people, the so-called Christmas spirit? I couldn’t give you a final answer.
In that moment of introspection, I also realized that this wasn’t the first time I’d felt that way leading up to Christmas. Over the years, the splendor of the holiday season has eroded away in me and lost its luster.
As I got older, holidays seemed to get more and more boring. I wanted to know and understand why. There were many possible causes, which awaited investigation.
Perhaps it was due to an unknown episode of seasonal depression.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) occurs during the fall and winter months. Reduced exposure to sunlight can cause chemical changes in the brain that can lead to symptoms of depression.
Melatonin is associated with SAD patients. Shorter hours lead to longer periods of darkness, which triggers an increase in melatonin production in the body. This makes a person sleepy during the day. Increased sleep is a symptom of SAD.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, cases of seasonal affective disorder tend to develop in adulthood. SAD is also more common in the winter than in the summer.
Perhaps it’s because of the fast-paced environment that comes with the transition to adulthood.
Living in a world where people are stuck in a routine wheel of completing daily tasks and achieving goals, it can be difficult to stop and take a breather. There are urgent matters that require a person’s full attention, such as ongoing work deadlines or maintaining family relationships.
Unfortunately, the existence of holidays no longer surprises adults. Unless Frosty the Snowman helps them file their paperwork, people can’t take their eyes off from appreciating the gifts the Christmas season brings.
American society prioritizes work above all else. Some people are always hustling. According to NNRoad, the average work week is at least 40 hours, and not everyone takes advantage of vacation time.
A hectic environment can ultimately take a toll on people. It can lead to increased stress and insomnia. It can also lead to other physical health problems, such as high blood pressure and weight gain, according to the V Care Cancer Center.
Perhaps some people have become indifferent to Christmas.
The Christmas season typically begins after Thanksgiving, leaving the entire month of December for celebrations. However, many stores still had shelves full of decorations and merchandise as of October, according to Scripps News.
As the holiday season moves earlier and earlier each year, some people may find the value of Christmas decreasing. This is a typical example of the phrase “making the obvious the obvious.”
“People tend to value and be grateful for things that they lack or for which they have to work hard,” Medium said in a study conducted by the Journal of Psychology and Social Psychology. This paper summarizes the research.
Celebrations were extended from one month to more than two months. Those who celebrate Christmas began their festivities before or just after Thanksgiving. The holiday started to feel less special as we spent more time drinking peppermint mochas and soaking in Christmas lights.
It’s shocking to realize that something that used to bring me intense joy no longer upsets me.
However, there are plenty of ways to get in the holiday spirit. I felt comfortable sitting near the Christmas tree with my family and focusing on the present moment.
Those celebrating Christmas can walk around the neighborhood admiring the festive lights and decorate to their heart’s content. They can take time to volunteer or donate to their community while remembering the true meaning of Christmas.
Even if you don’t celebrate, you can still decorate your living space for the holidays you celebrate and practice family traditions to remember the season.
It may take time, but people can learn to rekindle the Christmas spirit in their hearts.
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Contact Adri Sahakian via email:
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