Today being the Solstice, I thought, how am I going to celebrate? Decided to take a hike, stepped outside where the neighborhood dog was ready to go - and we did! Thanks for the reminder

I have been a single dad for almost 25 years, my kids are also atheists. Every year we have a house full over xmas time, usually for about 3 weeks. No xmas, no tree, no decorations, no gifts nothing like that. Beach, surfing,pool, board and computer games. A lot of my kids friends are estranged from their families, so they come here, they have become family to each other so this way they don't feel alone, they come back from overseas, interstate and some are local. Recent years has seen a number of elderly people come along also. Purely because they feel so isolated and alienated when the rest of our society does their thing.

I just don't go to those "celebrations". I do my own thing on 12/25.

I try to never let it get to that point. My avoidance techniques have been sharply honed over the years ! All is calm ...

I'd head outside too-cold and snow brings you to reality.