Silent Nights: When the Holidays Feel Lonely
The holiday season has a way of amplifying everything we feel we’re missing. While the world seems busy jetting off to exotic getaways, sharing snapshots of warm family gatherings, or dancing the night away with friends, here I am—curled up in my room, swirling a glass of wine, drowning in a tide of emotions I’ve kept at bay all year long. Loneliness? It sits heavily beside me. Stress? Looming like a storm cloud. Anxiety? On overdrive. Depression? Let’s not even go there. And then, there’s the absence of companionship—the sharpest ache of all. It feels like everyone’s paired up in these perfect, Instagram-worthy moments, while I’m just a spectator, scrolling, liking, and commenting with all the sincerity in my heart. No bitterness, just quiet acceptance. I’m happy for their joy, truly. But in the stillness, I can’t help but acknowledge my own emptiness. With each swirl of wine in my glass, I feel my emotions whirl alongside it. Is it the drink or the season that stirs this longing...