Christmas - it’s the most wonderful time of the year. Or it would be, if it was mistletoe looming over our heads and not the increasing likelihood of yet another lockdown.
For those of us not yet over the disappointment of last year, saying that this is unwelcome news would be the understatement of the year. To essentially miss out on another Christmas really isn’t how I wanted to say farewell to 2021, but right now it’s looking more likely than ever.
Time cannot be bought back. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. And yet again, we all face the dilemma of missing out on time with family and friends to keep those same people safe. Being one of the youngest in my family – and without wanting to lower the tone – everyone sat around the Christmas dinner table this year may not be here next year.
Therefore, missing out on what could be somebody’s final Christmas will undoubtedly be preying on many minds up and down the country.
Not only do I fear I will be missing out on time with family, but also time with friends. Going out to pubs, bars and restaurants are not festive activities that young people shy away from, and so with further restrictions, this privilege may yet again be swept from under our feet.
Feeling like I have already missed out on so many could-have-been memories is – to put it nicely – both upsetting and frustrating, and I’m sure that many of us feel the same way.
Saying that, spending time together in general may not be an option at all, as we may also see restrictions placed on indoor mixing. Losing out on what could turn out to be valuable time with loved ones, is, for me, cheerless and unfair. And that’s not to even mention how the recent Downing Street allegations have made us feel about the ‘gift’ of a possible festive lockdown…
Don’t get me wrong, we’re all – I’m sure – for keeping everyone safe, and most of us plan to comply with the vital measures that need to be imposed. However, the vast levels of uncertainty cannot be ignored, and neither can the impact that several lockdowns have had on mental health.
Being somewhat ‘locked inside’ as we both work and socialise from home isn’t the best way to spread Christmas cheer, and I fear it puts the nation’s trust in the government further in doubt. As we seem to be stuck in limbo between what we are told to do, along with a continuing stream of confusing instruction, I often struggle to understand what exactly is being asked of us as the general public.
This pandemic has undoubtedly impacted all ages, genders and walks of life, but snatching away another Christmas at the last second could result in a lockdown more damaging than any other.
So please Mr Johnson, despite not appearing green and hairy, try to avoid being the Grinch who really did steal Christmas.
