Admit it: whether you’re single or happily married, your ex has probably crossed your mind at some point in the past few days.
‘Tis the season, after all.
Whether you’re reminiscing of Christmas vacations past, debating wishing them a happy holidays, wondering what they’re up to, or missing them hopelessly, your ex (or exes) may pop to mind a little more than normal as of late.
And you’ve probably wondered WTF was happening.
Well, the answer is the holidays. The holidays are happening and messing with your mind.
Here’s why:
You will get that sentimental feeling…
If there was ever a time to get all sentimental, it’s during the holidays. Because of this, it’s natural to miss people who are no longer in your life. When it comes to your ex, it’s just easy to miss all the holly jolly times and let the egg nog martinis get to your head as you forget the reason(s) the two of your are no longer together in the first place.
You have more time to think…
As opposed to the other 50 weeks of the year, during which you barely have time to keep in touch with the people currently in your life, you have more free time come the holidays. When work relaxes for the season and the fireplace roars, you have less distractions and more time than ever to think and reflect – and your mind may naturally wander to your ex.
You compare the holiday to holidays past…
Along with the whole reflection thing comes the inevitable comparison of this holiday season with those of times past – whether that means last year or a decade ago. And most of the time, such memories involve your ex (and their amazing family, that great vacation the two of you took that year, how great they look with a tan…)
There are so many damn reminders…
Even if your ex isn’t included in your holiday reflection session, there is no shortage of other reminders of him or her during the holidays, especially if you go home for the occasion. You’ll find them everywhere, from old photo albums to offside comments from your great aunt about how much she liked that “one young chap or lady.”
You reconnect with old friends…
Speaking of reminders, the holidays are a time to connect with old friends, some of whom you may not have even seen since you and your ex were an item. If you still share mutual friends, there’s also the change that he or she may show up to the reunion – along with their new significant other. And nobody is more aware of that than you.
You genuinely care…
Just as you do with any of your friends and family, you genuinely want and hope for your ex and their family to be having as good of a holiday season as possible. So, it’s only natural to wonder what he or she is up to this year.
The booze talks…
When the friends and family gather, the booze flows a little more freely during the holidays than it does at any other time. All the alcohol inevitably heightens all the other reasons you’re thinking about your ex. Just be smart: a ‘happy holidays’ text is one thing. A booze-filled walk down memory lane via text is quite another.
