Lonely versus alone

This is the time of year when a lot of people feel lonely. And it doesn't always mean they're alone.

I was lonely at Christmas time for the last years of my marriage. To my ex, Christmas was such a pain in the ass. He thought gifts were a waste of time. He was always in the middle of some tiff with family - his side and mine - and never wanted to spend the day with them. I've spent the last few Thanksgiving and Christmas Days with my family and without him (except for one Christmas Day with his mother - what a disaster!).

And what are the holidays all about but spending quality time with family and friends? Even then, it was lonely, but I wasn't alone.

This year I'm alone at Christmas for the first time in many years. It's lonely.

You don't realize how nice it is to have a someone who cares about you until you don't. One person who always puts you as the top priority. But I'll never go back. Any bad relationship is worse than none at all. I'd rather be lonely and alone.

There are caring friends all around, and I appreciate them like you wouldn't believe. But it's not the same. I'll be stronger after this year, I hope.

Love to the single girls,
Addison