Happy Holidays

Let me start off by saying that the subject of this post is ever-so-slightly sarcastic. Not dripping with sarcasm, not coated in it, not marinated overnight and baked in facetiousness, but there's a hint of 'yeah, right,' about it. I have nothing against the holidays per se. I claim to be, well, more or less Christian, depending on my mood that day and whether or not God's done something to piss me off, so Christmas should be okay with me; and anyway, religious or spiritual beliefs aside, there's nothing wrong with eating good food and having a little too much to drink and putting up sparkly decorations and lights on every surface in your house.

Or, if you're not what the English term 'Christian,' (where I'm from it actually means something, not so much here) there's still nothing wrong with having an extra couple of days off work, and just generally loafing about doing whatever you please. It should be a good situation for everyone involved, regardless of spiritual or ethnic or cultural considerations.

But. Not counting spring (because isn't it depressing to see the whole world bursting into bloom, Nature renewing herself, a baby boom in the animal kingdom, etc) more people kill themselves at this time of year than any other. Now why do you suppose that is?

In case you don't know, I'll share my theory. It's less of a theory, practically a fact, really.

Basically, this is a shitty time of year to be alone. And there are lots and lots and LOTS of people who are, if not technically alone, alone in every way that matters.

If your computer is your best friend--either through an internet porn or gaming addiction (the two often go hand-in-hand) or because you lack the confidence to make real-life friends--you are alone. If you're away at university, and you can't get home for Christmas, you are alone. If you're over the age of 35, and you have no spouse and/or kids of your own, you're alone.

If you've spent 5 of the last 7 Christmases without seeing your parents or siblings, and you're about to do the same thing again, you are alone. If you can't remember the last time you looked forward to Christmas, you're alone. If you swore to yourself you would never feel this way again 2 years ago, but you haven't changed anything about your situation during those 2 years, you are alone.

If you spend 2 weeks every year exchanging cards and presents and precious time with people who don't belong to you, who aren't yours, who can't love you because they don't understand you (and don't want to)... you're definitely alone.

So. Not referring to anyone specific there. But I'm going to make the tentative suggestion that if you know anyone who fits any of the above criteria, even one sentence, you keep an eye on them, at least until the first week or so of January is behind us. Pay particular attention to wifeless middle-aged men; statistically, they're the highest risk group for completed suicides. I suppose it's the spectre of old age rushing down on them, coupled with the near-certain knowledge that nothing they've done will be remembered, nothing they've done will continue, once they cease to exist.

At least I have kids. Presumably, they will continue, after I'm gone. After I'm dead, to call a spade a spade. After my lifeless corpse is shovelled into a lonely grave (though I'm sure you can be buried in a biodegradable coffin, below a little sapling, and therefore your decomposing remains can help a little baby tree to flourish. I like the idea of that.) But, I digress. My kids. They give me a purpose, and also a reason to hope... So maybe, just maybe, I'll manage to make it through this year, the same way I made it through all the others.

And come spring, I'll have a whole new list of people who might require a little extra attention. This will centre on people who feel old, have pointless jobs, and realise they're not fulfilling their potential--but I'll save that for the appropriate time. For now, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, to anyone who can actually achieve those objectives.

And, shit. Merry Christmas to the rest of you, as well. If you get through it, things'll only get better, right? And so we'll continue telling ourselves, for as long as we can....