Airy Lounge: Part 9 | My Kids Are All Overseas This Christmas

Airy Lounge: Part 9 | My Kids Are All Overseas This Christmas

Jeff’s flat won Gold at the London Design Awards last year. Curved ceilings, navy walls, brass accents, warm lighting. It is the kind of home people expect to see covered in seasonal decorations this time of year.

But Jeff doesn’t decorate for Christmas. “My home already looks the way I want it to,” he says. “I don’t want to buy things I’ll use once and then store for a year. I don’t see the point.”

His three adult children live overseas. They had already spent time together in November, a relaxed weekend that meant more to him than any date on the calendar. So on Christmas itself, he will be on his own. And he is fine with that.

“People make a big deal about the twenty-fourth. But for me, I see my kids when it makes sense. Not when the calendar tells me to.”

When I asked if he did anything at all for the season, he pointed to the diffuser on his console.

“I just refilled your fragrance. That is enough. You should be pleased I like it this much.”, he laughed. 


Forest Breath sits beside a vase of green branches in the centre of the living room. The air in the room feels lived in, like someone cares about being there.

On Christmas Day, he will likely go to the restaurant downstairs. He knows the staff and sometimes joins his neighbours for wine after dinner. If no one is around, he will play mobile games or watch Netflix. Nothing planned. Nothing dramatic. Just a day.

He says, “I never really thought December was special. Christmas, New Year, all of it. For me, every day is like a holiday if I decide it is. I celebrate when it feels right, not when the calendar tells me to.”

“People get stressed because they think they must feel something on a date. But it’s just a date. You can have your Christmas in November. Or February. Or next week. It doesn’t matter.”

If you are spending the holidays alone and it feels heavy, start by changing how you look at it.

You are not missing anything everyone else has. If you want to celebrate, do it when it feels good for you. If you want to enjoy the day, buy yourself a gift, make a meal you like, or call someone you care about.

Make your own timing.

Read more real holiday stories at Airy Lounge.

 

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Airy Lounge: Part 8 | We Couldn’t Have Kids, So We Invited the World In

Airy Lounge: Part 8 | We Couldn’t Have Kids, So We Invited the World In
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