Secret Love Nest 2018

By the Lake

Holidays are around the corner. Christmas and New Year are fast approaching. The world's atmosphere must be charged and excitement are all over us like the twinkling lights, traffic and rushed shopping ventures to complete you gifts for your loved ones.

It's time to be merry and to spend ridiculous amount of money. But it's just one time of the year. And I bet most of us saved money for gift givings this holiday season. I think some genius decided to put Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year at the end of the year so you will have ample time to save up money in times like these.

Anyhow, I am gearing up for a busy but lovely Christmas. But while I am wrapping gifts, I had my radio on and one dj has an important point he raised up on his radio show.

Holidays can be happy occassions to most people, but for some, this can be the most lonely time of the year. Why? I don't know...I think the reasons will vary.

There are people working away from their families. Like soldiers and migrant workers. Working abroad or required to travel and won't celebrate the holidays with their families and loved ones. That's one sad thought and reason.

Some are sick. There are people who will observe the holidays on their hospital beds for various reasons. That's one sad thought too.

What else...oh, older people. Do you know that during the holidays, most senior and older people living at nursing homes or even living alone suffer from loneliness and depression? That's...a devastating scenario. Christmas are not for kids alone, although Santa was designed for them but still, holidays are for old people too.

Holidays can be a lonely endeavor for some. Seeing complete families when you are an orphan. Seeing grandparents with their grandchildren when your own cannot visit you. Seeing lovers exchanging gifts and kisses, someone even proposing or getting married, when you have been alone for quite some time now. Seeing people receive puppies and kitten when your pet for twelve years died and you just buried it.

Those thoughts...they are not far from reality you know.

I don't want to sound like a killjoy or a party pooper. I don't want anyone having a great holiday so far to feel guilty because you are happy while others are not.

No, that is not the purpose of my words. Go be merry, be happy, we all deserve that. But I hope, while we are all having a merry time, we will remember how lucky we are that we are happy celebrating the holidays, because not everyone has that.

And lets be understanding and sensitive to people going through tough times while it's the holiday. Let's take time away from our busy planning of party meals and wrapping gifts to sit down with a sad friend and assure them that we are here for them.

Or if you are feeling a little more generous, volunteer to visit orphanages and nursing homes to say hello and spend time with our elserly folks and cute little children.

(Have you done that, YuYu?)

Actually I did. Maybe that's why I am raising this issue. I did visit a nursing home with Qing's mother one December afternoon and seeing old folks living away their remaining time here on Earth with companies of delightful seniors like them, it's bittersweet actually. Not every senior folks complained about being placed in a nursing home. Some actually don't have any family left. Some of them didn't marry and so they don't have children.