Since flying as Cabin Crew I’ve spent two Christmas Days away – first in Orlando and the second in New York City.
In 2024, the year when I moved in to my own home, I was fortunate to have a few days off over Christmas. Not long enough to travel and be with family, but long enough to enjoy my first Christmas in my new home.
For the first time in my life I got to choose everything myself. I didn’t have my Gran, my Mum, my brother, work or any other external influence shaping what my Christmas looked like.
I was excited to choose the decorations, put together my own menu, and plan what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it.
I didn’t need to know what baubles I wanted on the tree; I could walk around the department store and be inspired on the spot. It was okay to allow my creativity to flow and put the pieces together throughout December to build a Christmas picture that was mine, and mine alone.
I didn’t have to fit someone else’s planning and prepping schedule; if I went shopping and felt overwhelmed, I could retreat home and venture out another day. I didn’t have to worry about communicating with anyone else, taking another person’s thoughts, opinions or personality in to account.
From the bubble bath with candles, then wrapping up in my new pyjamas and fluffy dressing gown on Christmas Eve; to waking up on Christmas morning to my beautiful tree, and cooking all the foods I love and enjoy. It was my Christmas.
I made everything the way I liked it – setting out to please only me.
I chopped my potatoes how I liked them chopped; I cooked chicken because I’m not a fan of turkey; I made sorrel without alcohol; and ate when I wanted to, not when I was told to.
It was the perfect solo-Christmas and ticked all of the boxes I wanted to experience.
I danced to Soca by myself in the evening and as the night came over and I sat in my sofa eating Ferrero Rocher chocolates, I heard my heart whisper:
“This is exactly what I wanted. The only thing missing is sharing it with someone else“
I proved to myself that it’s possible to thoroughly enjoy being single at Christmas and not need to tag on to someone else’s festivities, or spend it sad and waiting. It also revealed my desire for companionship and sharing, even in the midst of thoroughly enjoying my own company.
Life doesn’t force us to pick and stick to a side, there’s so much more nuance to a lot of what we experience.
I can thoroughly enjoy my solo-Christmas and desire someone to share it with at the same time. That is allowed.
I’m so proud of myself for making my solo-Christmas one to remember but this year – 2025 – I’m grateful that I made it possible to be with my family. Who says every Christmas needs to be the same? Every year I get to write whatever Christmas story I choose; the most important thing is that I embrace it for everything that it is.
Takeaway: I’m an adult and I get to be the Author of my Christmas story. Every year offers me the chance to write a different one.