To Anyone Who’s Struggling This Christmas

Cw: discussions of abuse, oppression, mental health, and food

Christmas can be difficult, and complicated, and full of feelings, and whatever is happening for you right now, it will be over sooner than you think. You are resilient even though you shouldn’t have to be, and you can get through this. We can get through this together.

There are many things I wish for you this holiday, and here are just a few.

I hope that you can eat whatever and however much you want, especially when people tell you that you shouldn’t. If you can’t afford a big Christmas dinner, there are lots of different ways to ‘feast’ – on bad movies, on kindness, on out of date Christmas chocolate from last year. Whatever you can have, whatever you can take, you deserve it and so much more.

If you can, I hope you can try to be with the people who make you feel happy and peaceful, even if it’s over the phone or just for a little while. If you have to be with people who make you uncomfortable, please try to understand that their desire to hurt you is about them, and you are more amazing than they can understand. If there’s nobody else to be with, there is always me – whoever you are, just drop me a line.

Even though things are tough, I hope you know it’s still ok to be exactly who you are. It’s ok to be loud about what and who matters to you, and to insist on the name you choose for yourself. It’s ok to make Christmas difficult for other people if it keeps you alive. If it’s better for you, it’s also very ok to stay quiet and safe.

I hope you can let yourself feel however you feel. I hope you can find a way to honour what you’re going through – you don’t have to be happy or excited about the holidays just because it’s expected. If you are feeling good, I hope you know that doesn’t mean your struggles are worth less.

More than anything, I hope you know that you are not alone. You are brilliant, and lovely, and I’m wishing you the merriest Christmas yet.

Lots of Yuletide love,

Katy x x x

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