KTHT Advent Calendar Prompts: Day 22 🎁
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Holiday Greetings, me lovelies! As we continue with the Mental Health prompts, today I want us to focus on our families and close friends, and how we can engage with one another during the holidays via gatherings around the television (or computer).
Small, intimate gatherings can be a great way to check-in on family and/or friends who may be suffering mentally. Many who suffer depression or anxiety cannot handle large gatherings, but tend to do well with small ones. It also let’s them know that you care about their well-being. And even if you do not have family or friends with mental health issues, those small, intimate gatherings can be uplifting for all involved.
🎁PROMPT 22: Do you have any traditions around watching tv shows or movies during the holidays? Share your stories with us. If you do not, what can you do to begin one to bring family and close friends together during the holidays?🎁
When I was a kid, Christmas wasn’t Christmas without the family gathering around the television to watch movies like Miracle On 34th Street, A Christmas Carol, It’s A Wonderful Life, Charlie Brown’s Christmas and all of the animated Christmas specials like Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. This was long before VHS or DVDs, so we’d have to check the TV Guide and schedule when the shows would come on. Excitement would build up as we awaited each broadcast. Mom would get out the old copper kettle and pop us popcorn (yes, this was before microwaves too!). Most of the Christmas candy had been made by this time, so we’d have fudge, peppermint patties, and rice crispy treats ready to consume too. The holiday season was probably the only time all of us gathered together to watch something we could all agree on.
Long after I left home, I strived to keep this one tradition alive. I’d invite some of my closest friends over — those who, like me, suffered depression — and we’d watch some of the same movies and animated series, but included more modern movies like A Christmas Story, Scrooged, and How The Grinch Stole Christmas on VHS and later on DVDs. Our gatherings were a bit more grown up with spirited drinks, but still popcorn and candies, and the occasional pizza. Afterwards, we’d sit and drink coffee, while catching up on our lives.
These days, my spouse and I gather around the computer and watch holiday movies. We have an extensive DVD library that we’ve built up over the years from all of our favorite Christmas classics to more modern movies. We drink spiced rum and munch on healthier snacks. It’s important to both of us to maintain a bit of tradition while making our own new ones. And since we are both reclusive introverts, this keeps us from being in large crowds that will heighten our anxiety during the holiday season. Our mental health thanks us.
We are looking forward to reading everyone’s submissions!
Much love from me and the other editors of KTHT.