5 Joyful Ways to Celebrate Holidays Away from Loved Ones

As I write this, I am newly moved back to England with my dear, sweet, bearded, furniture making Englishman husband, Max. We’ve celebrated Thanksgiving with friends and we’re gearing up to decorate our new place for Christmas. While we’re excited to settle in to life in the UK again, we also have the feelings of what–or who, rather–we are missing.

Having lived abroad and away from loved ones whether I’ve been in England missing my Minnesota people, or in Minnesota missing my England people, I know the heartache that distance can bring. And, the good news is, I know the joy of how to connect in unique and joyful ways that are memorable and meaningful.

Maybe a family member is deployed this season. Perhaps your sibling is spending time with college friends this year instead of coming home. Or, you just might be the one who’s moved away. It may be just across town, but it still feels far away.

No matter how how far away you live from your loved ones, if you can’t be with them when you want to, it can feel just too far. I hope that these five ideas inspire you to find joy as you celebrate together, but apart, and that you feel closer in your hearts this season.

• EAT “TOGETHER” — Growing up, holiday meals with my family usually involved a broccoli-cheese-rice dish. Nobody I know other than my family has ever heard of or eaten this dish. But, it’s a classic of my family. My in-laws love ice cream any time of year and especially when it’s a special occasion.
  
  What are some family or friend favorites you could share near and far?
  
  Maybe you will decide with your loved ones on a certain type of meal or food that everyone will eat on a particular day or time. Then, “together” while apart, you each eat that meal. It may feel silly if you’re still on your own, but it is really special when you know you’re all sharing the same meal. And, when you send each other a text or email with a photograph of each of you enjoying your shared meal apart, it’s really special.
• FLAT STANLEY TOUR — When I first moved to England, my nieces and nephews were much younger. At school, they had an assignment that I found very amusing. I wonder if you’ve heard of it.
  
  From a children’s book series from the 1960s...here…you might take inspiration from a “Flat Stanley” approach. In the story, a character ends up flat and is sad about it. But, when he (Stanley) realizes he can be mailed around the world on adventures, he sees the fun in it.
  
  You and your loved ones could create a cardboard/paper cut out of your people who you’re away from and then photograph yourself with Flat Loved Ones doing things together.
  
  It’s a pretty fun and funny project. You might even be inspired to share some fun facts about the adenvutres you take your flat loved one on. Facts about where you are or silly predicaments your flat person found themselves in.
  
  For more inspiration and direction, here’s a teacher’s instructional video on how to do a project with the class, but it could be done with a family, too.
  
• WRITE A LETTER — Remember having a pen pal? I have a pen pal locally when I was a kid and then I had a pen pal from Latvia when I was a pre-teen.
  
  Being an adult can be too serious and impersonal. Let’s bring back letter writing! It doesn’t have to be complicated or fancy, simply share the simple things you experience that you would share if you were sat in the same room together with your loved on. If you’ve moved away, they’ll want to know what your new life is like. If your loved one has moved away, they’ll likely want reminders of home.
  
  Simply write five lines of sensory observations you can make right now as you think of them. Just write those five lines and send the thoughts with your love…pop a stamp on it and then mail it! It’s easy. There is no need for a big time-intensive “Christmas Letter” if you don’t want to write one.
  
  And, really, so often we can hold a letter knowing our person has held it, too. When it’s handwritten, we see their personality really shine through and helps us feel close when we are lonesome.
  
• TOURIST — Have you ever been a tourist in your own city? This can be such a fun way to interact with loved ones who are far away. You can visit all of the places you’d love to take them were they to visit you in-person.
  
  Being a holiday tourist in your own city can be a great way to see your own home from another perspective. You might try new activities simply for the experience of creating a connection with the loved one you’re far away from.
  
  You could take selfies or photos of places or sights you experience and want to show them, and then send the photos in a text or email. You could even make a few into post cards (or, just purchase post cards of your local area) and write a simple note to let them know you’re thinking of them while you celebrate (see: “Write A Letter” above).
  
• NEW PEOPLE — When your loved one has moved away, or you’re in a new location yourself, it can be a great opportunity to connect with new people you’d never have met were the circumstances the same.
  
  This isn’t about replacing your people–of course!!! But, you really can meet “new” loved ones who can be an unexpected friend.
  
  Perhaps you find a community choir or class to be part of during the holiday season. From carol singing to wreath making…to mulled wine or spiced cider sipping…or, maybe just a local holiday craft fair(!!!), these activities could introduce you to people with whom you might find long-lasting relationships.
  
  And, the reality is that YOU might actually be a gift to others who are lonesome, too.

Whatever you choose to do this season while you’re away from loved ones, I hope that you’re inspired to create connections. In the northern hemisphere when the seasons mean earlier nights in the darkness and later sunrises, we could really use a jolt in our social hearts. Trying something out of the ordinary to connect with loved ones could be just what we need this season.

I wonder, which activity might you try this season?

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Happy Holidays!

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