Surviving the "Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
The holidays aren’t always merry, and it’s okay to feel that way. Give yourself grace, take it one day at a time, and know you’re not alone—my DMs are always open.
As the calendar inches toward the holidays, the world seems to shimmer with expectation. Twinkling lights, holiday markets, endless carols—it’s all designed to make us believe in magic. But what happens when the season doesn’t feel magical?
For many, this time of year is not a Hallmark movie. Instead, it’s a mirror that reflects everything we wish we could hide. The breakup that still stings, the silence of an empty home, the exhaustion that no amount of mulled wine can numb. The holidays have a way of amplifying what’s already heavy, and if you’re carrying the weight of heartbreak, loneliness, or family conflict, December can feel less like a celebration and more like a survival test.
I’ve been there. I’ve sat at tables where the laughter didn’t quite reach me, where the empty chair across the table was louder than the conversation. I’ve watched fireworks crackle across the sky at midnight, wondering why I couldn’t feel the spark. And I’ve curled up on my sofa, drowning out the noise of the world with a movie that couldn’t fix anything but at least offered an escape.
And you know what? That’s okay. It’s okay to feel like the only person who didn’t RSVP “yes” to the Christmas cheer. It’s okay if your New Year’s resolution is simply to make it through to January.
You don’t have to perform joy. You don’t have to convince anyone—or yourself—that this time of year is anything more than what it is for you. Some seasons are for rejoicing, and others are for regrouping. This might just be a regrouping year.
When the holidays feel overwhelming, let yourself pause. You don’t need to fix everything by December 25th or have it all figured out by the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. Let the world rush around you while you take a breath. The truth is, joy isn’t something you find under a tree or in someone else’s company—it’s something you can build slowly, piece by piece, even in the quietest moments.
Maybe joy looks like a small act of self-kindness: a warm bath, a favorite book, a walk in the crisp winter air. Maybe it’s giving yourself permission to skip the party or say no to the family drama. Maybe it’s letting yourself cry because those tears need to fall.
And maybe it’s just knowing that you’re not alone in feeling this way.
The truth is, so many of us struggle at this time of year. The glittering perfection on social media is often a mask. Behind every cheerful holiday card or Instagram-worthy tree, there’s a story of someone navigating their own hard moment.
So, if you’re feeling like the odd one out this holiday season, I want you to know you’re not alone. My DMs are open, always. You don’t need to have the right words or a perfectly crafted story—just share what’s on your heart. Sometimes, all we need is to feel seen and heard by someone who understands.
As the year winds down, I hope you give yourself the gift of grace. You don’t need to have everything figured out. You don’t need to feel “festive” to be worthy. Just being here—alive, trying, surviving—is enough.
Here’s to a season that’s real, not perfect. And here’s to you, exactly as you are, making it through one day at a time.
With love and understanding,
Victoria (your fake Carrie Bradshaw)
P.S. If no one’s said it to you yet: You’re doing great. Truly. Keep going.
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my joy is found reading your articles
i needed this.