Sitting on the balcony and noticed neighbors with Christmas lights were laughing and having a party.
It took me a minute to piece it together; I forgot about Christmas parties. I used to really like them and forgot about them completely.
It's been a long and brutal 3 years.
Then it's time for you to go to one. Even if it's a bit awkward because you don't know many people. Ask around. Ask co-workers, family members, friends, then ask those people if they know someone who is. Just tell them you want to get out of the house and be around good company. I assure you that someone within 2 points of separation from you is having a nice Christmas party.
All you have to do at that point is not be weird. Just be friendly and affable. The worst thing you should do is be on your phone the whole time.
I wish it were that easy. Unfortunately my family won’t invite me to any such events, even when I ask, and most of my friends are interstate, where I can’t really get to this week…
But yeah, I could do better. I intend to try to “reach out” to some people before New Year’s, at least.
My life just hasn’t quite worked out in the way you describe, I suppose…
The last Christmas party I was even invited to was in a state I haven’t lived in long-term since 2016, so…
It’s just not as easy as that. Unfortunately…
If I had the foresight to see how things would turn out, I would obviously do things differently, but that’s always the way, I guess.
Being on my phone at parties definitely wasn’t really the problem, ha.
Actually, I’m wrong - last Christmas Party-type thing was a few months before Covid. Slightly less depressing, lol…
But still, entirely different state, with people who I haven’t seen since. And I can’t afford to get there to hang out with them again this week, unfortunately…
So in principle I agree with what you’re saying, Dom. I just haven’t had a life that has worked out that way, unfortunately…