Is your Christmas blue?

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The two songs played one early Christmas morn made me wonder – whether they reflected disc jockey’s mood or they were requested by a listener who did not feel the Christmas cheer.

The songs played in succession, between a commercial break, were Elvis Presley’s enduring “Blue Christmas” and Michel Buble’s “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”, a favorite melody for those looking forward to return to the old familiar place for the holiday but was actually composed in honor of soldiers serving overseas during World War II who longed to be with loved ones at Christmas time.

At one point in our year-end life we must have felt that gnawing feeling as we marked what is supposed to be the merriest time of the year that it’s understandable if we easily identify ourselves within the jigsaw in the lyrics of this kind of Christmas songs.

After all, human as we are, we go through moments of angst, worry distress, aloneness and loneliness in many days of the year.

In short, if you are lonely now, you have the assurance that you are not alone. The person next to you in school, at work or the mall may be as lonely as you are or you had been.

Loneliness is an epidemic, if we trust the findings of a global study, which a number of  media outlets, like CNN, The Christian Post and other global media platforms reported in the early part of the quarter of this year.

The study, which asked the question, “How lonely do you feel?”, was conducted  by Gallup and Meta among about 1,000 respondents in 142 countries.

If you are or have been enveloped by loneliness, you are not alone, and as CNN reported, “you are in good company.”

As the Christian Post reported, “more than a billion people — or close to a quarter of the world’s population — are struggling with loneliness.”

What are some of the key findings of the study?

• Nearly one  in four adults, or 25 percent of respondents aged 15 and above, self-reported feeling very lonely or fairly lonely, with young adults – those between 19 and 29 – having the highest rate at 27 percent.

• The lowest rates of loneliness were reported by older adults. Only 17 percent of people age 65 and older reported feeling lonely.

• Over half of adults – those aged 45 and older – reported not feeling lonely at all.

• Majority of those below 45 years old said that they felt at least a little lonely, if not very or fairly lonely.

• Overall, 79 out of the 142 countries, or more than half (almost 56 percent) of the areas covered, had a higher self-reported rate of loneliness in women than men.

• While 49 percent of the total adults surveyed reported not feeling at all lonely, over half had answered that they felt at least “a little lonely”.

The CNN report explained the high incidence of loneliness among young people based on an interview with Dr. Ami Rokach, a clinical psychologist:

“Younger people who are in a transitional stage of becoming an adult experience more uncertainty in many areas of life.”

The transitional stage, the psychologist said, include “a tumultuous love life, uncertainty about a professional path, and in the process of separating from their parents.”

Thus, young adults are “more likely to experience more loneliness than older adults” who have already accumulated “wisdom, friends, a family which may be supportive, and a community which cares for them,” the report quoted Dr. Rokach.

The CNN article quoted Gallup consultant Ellyn Maese as saying that as the findings show (contrary to the notion that older adults feel more the isolation in their sunset years), the study “is a really good reminder that loneliness is not just a problem of aging — it’s a problem that can affect everyone at any age.”

Maese said the findings also serve as an opportunity to examine the social connections that people still have a strong drive to make following the pandemic… and for people to check on their loved ones and friends from time to time to know how they are doing.

Being alone does not necessarily mean loneliness, and many people need to be aware of it, Dr. Rokach said.

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So, do you think you’re having blue Christmas (as reflected in Elvis’ song) this year?

Take heart. There’s another side to the blueness you may feel this season or in other times of the year, that is, if we consider the interpretation of Sea Pointe, a design company, which associates the color blue away from feelings of depression and sadness and linking the color to an array of positive effects — from serenity, tranquility, non-confrontation and mental stimulation to trust and dependability as well as increased productivity.

In addition, blue is associated with stability, inspiration, wisdom, reliability and the  expanse of space – from the sky down to the deep sea.

Let us not forget, too, that blue symbolizes the hope and faith of the biblical prophet, Moses…and peace, the enduring message for this season.

Humming to the tune of “Blue Christmas” now?

Why not shift to the old, familiar songs, like “Joy to the World”, “Hark the Herald Angel Sing”, “Silent Night”, “O Little Star of Bethlehem” and other carols? They speak more of love and life’s meaning, the rhyme and reason for Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago.

Have a blessed Christmas, everyone.

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For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. | NWI