How To Enjoy The Holidays When You're Far Away From Family
The holidays place immense pressure on us to spend and cherish time with our family. But many of us live far away from our families, while others may not be in contact with their families because the relationship is toxic. Maybe one or both parents have passed away. This guide is for all of you. Whether you’re choosing to spend the holidays far away from home or home doesn’t really exist for you anymore, it can always be created in new and unexpected places.
If you’re spending Christmas or New Year’s without your family, you’re not alone. A 2021 study found that 60% of Americans hadn’t spent the holidays with family in two years. I have spent the past three holiday seasons over 10,000 miles away from family, in another country. It hasn’t been as simple as hopping onto a plane to spend Christmas together, especially amid a pandemic that unexpectedly left me stuck in Australia. Here’s what I’ve learned over these past three years.