A young boy gazes thoughtfully out of a rain-streaked window. (thitarees (123RF))
Glühwein, panettone, Father Christmas, bustling Christmas markets and wooden cabins tucked into snowy alpines come to mind when one thinks of Christmas in Europe. Although numerous wonderful opportunities present themselves during the holidays, some military personnel and their families still feel homesick. From individuals who recently moved overseas and are still getting their footing to families who have been stationed overseas for years — homesickness can strike anyone at any time. The holidays are a time for family and togetherness and for many people overseas the lack of family can elevate feelings of loneliness. There are things you can do if you’re feeling a little homesick this season.
Focus on establishing holiday traditions that will create merriment in your life.
Miss your mom’s cooking? Ask her to video chat with you while she guides you through a favorite recipe. Living in tight quarters and can’t get a tree or the decor you’d like? Get creative! Use paper to make origami ornaments that can be recycled instead of stored, or stack books into a mini “tree” and drape them with twinkle lights. Identify the bit of holiday that you need to make the season feel special then figure out how you can make it happen.
Happy little kid in red and green striped pajamas decorate Christmas tree in beautiful living room with traditional fire place. (Famveldman (123RF))
Avoid feelings of missing out by setting the stage for your own family or friend group traditions. You could treat your kids to a new ornament each year, start a yearly woodland hike with your family, or solo, on the season’s first snowy day, plan a holiday scavenger hunt, start an annual holiday movie night slumber party, or host an annual ugly sweater dinner with friends or an anti-holiday party (a party with no mention of holidays, it could be a nice break from the Christmas music). By establishing something that is your own, you’ll have a new tradition to look forward to and channel your energy towards creating.
We live in an incredible age of connectivity. Use it to your advantage. In my Polish-American family, Christmas Eve dinner is a special meal. Over the years I’ve fallen into the habit of texting and calling my cousins and mom while we all prepare our respective Christmas Eve meals. We’re apart, yet still feel a sense of togetherness.
Poles have a custom of sharing opłatek, a piece of unleavened Holy Bread before Christmas Eve dinner while offering wishes to one another. My mother has been procuring opłatek from her favorite Polish shop in Greenpoint, NY, and sending pieces to my brother and me for years. Ideally, we would all share the bread and our wishes for one another under the same roof, but sometimes military life means creative solutions.
What can you do to feel closer to faraway loved ones? Utilize video chat and snail mail to create memories.
Concentrated young woman sitting on couch in living room, using smartphone, making video call, (fizkes (123RF))
We create our happiness. Sometimes some factors loom large and may be undesirable, but there are resources and creative solutions to put yourself in a better frame of mind.
If you find yourself feeling a bit sad this holiday season, please check-in on yourself. Are you in a rut of going to work and then straight home? You can try exercising in a social setting where your schedule allows. If you’re zoning out in front of the TV or video games, perhaps try turning them off to work on a hobby, read or simply go to sleep. Are you scrolling through social media and being bombarded by images of “happy” people in perfect backgrounds? Try to remember this is only a glimpse of an individual’s life. Take a break from the phone. Take a walk. Talk to a loved one. Chat with a stranger.
Recognize too that some problems might require a bit more help. Use your installation’s mental health resources, talking to a professional can help — perhaps just a single chat is all you need to feel better!
If you sense someone you know might be a bit down, please reach out to them, especially newer community members. Our overseas community is ours to take care of, you might end up making someone’s holiday special or making a wonderful new friend. Remember that human connection is what makes this time of year the most magical time of year.
