We have just finished that, all too brief, period of the year when everything is supposed to be right with the world and every one of us full of "comfort and joy".
'A Christmas Carol' has put us all back on track for another year by pointing out the error of our ways and by showing that anyone, no matter what wrongs they have done in the past, can turn their life around and lead a full and happy life - but is this really the case? The Christmas holiday period is actually one of the worst possible times of the year for an ever increasing number of people.
With more individuals living on their own than ever before, debt increasing on a massive scale per head of population, not to mention the perceived threat of climate change and imminent attacks on society by person or persons' unknown, this has become one of the most stressful times in history.
Not everyone is able to cope with this.
For those people that struggle with a 'normal' existence during the rest of the year the Christmas holidays can become unbearable with the additional pressures that are put upon them.
It is supposed to be a happy time of the year, yet people are living a miserable existence, it is supposed to be a time of giving, yet many have nothing to give, it is supposed to be a time of celebration, yet many have nothing to celebrate, it is supposed to be a time of enjoying the company of friends and families, yet many people have neither.
Where are the benevolent 'Scrooges' for them? There is, of course, hope out there for these individuals.
Not all circumstances that people find themselves in are insurmountable, in a large number of cases they just need someone to help them find the right answer, which may be via some form of professional counselling, or, just by having a friend to talk to.
Not everyone who is alone is alone by choice and that can be the hardest part of this whole family orientated time of the year.
So the next time you are fighting with a 'loved one' at Christmas just remember that many people would swap places with you in a heartbeat, and when you get your twenty third pair of socks many people out there would love the fact that the thought really did count.
'A Christmas Carol' has put us all back on track for another year by pointing out the error of our ways and by showing that anyone, no matter what wrongs they have done in the past, can turn their life around and lead a full and happy life - but is this really the case? The Christmas holiday period is actually one of the worst possible times of the year for an ever increasing number of people.
With more individuals living on their own than ever before, debt increasing on a massive scale per head of population, not to mention the perceived threat of climate change and imminent attacks on society by person or persons' unknown, this has become one of the most stressful times in history.
Not everyone is able to cope with this.
For those people that struggle with a 'normal' existence during the rest of the year the Christmas holidays can become unbearable with the additional pressures that are put upon them.
It is supposed to be a happy time of the year, yet people are living a miserable existence, it is supposed to be a time of giving, yet many have nothing to give, it is supposed to be a time of celebration, yet many have nothing to celebrate, it is supposed to be a time of enjoying the company of friends and families, yet many people have neither.
Where are the benevolent 'Scrooges' for them? There is, of course, hope out there for these individuals.
Not all circumstances that people find themselves in are insurmountable, in a large number of cases they just need someone to help them find the right answer, which may be via some form of professional counselling, or, just by having a friend to talk to.
Not everyone who is alone is alone by choice and that can be the hardest part of this whole family orientated time of the year.
So the next time you are fighting with a 'loved one' at Christmas just remember that many people would swap places with you in a heartbeat, and when you get your twenty third pair of socks many people out there would love the fact that the thought really did count.
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