(This was originally posted on Craigslist 12/24/2001. I’m not the author but it helped me during a sad time in my life so I post it every year on behalf of the real author in the hopes that it might help someone else.)

Christmas bums me out. I have no family, and most of my friends have died. I have no place to go for a friends & family & tree dinner and day of Yule Tide Spirits. However, I won’t pule about my misery. I’ve done this for the past four years and it works for me.

But. This is what I do to make Christmas bearable for me.

Preface this with saying that this Christmas looks like it’s going to be nice weather, so no reason to sit isolated at home!

OK? These are just my things. Think of some of your own, too.

1. Get out of your apartment.

2. Take a walk.

3. Ride MUNI somewhere neat. The drivers aren’t happy about working Christmas, so be nice to them and greet them with “Merry Christmas,” and thank them for the transfer. Make eye contact with other passengers and smile.

4. Go to different parts of town you’ve not been to.

5. Round up some of that spare change you have in a jar or such … carry it around with you and give it to panhandlers and watch their surprize … sure, let ’em buy a beer or cigs or whatever. It’s Christmas for them, too. Who am I to judge?

6. Walk through parks — those w/city views are great … there will tourists taking pictures. Since they can’t take pictures of everyone themselves, offer to take a picture of their entire family, group, whatever. Tell them welcome to San Francisco.

7. Go to a movie. Sure, be that weird person alone in the theatre. Laugh you ass off. Nothing freaks out folks more than the lone person daring to laugh at a movie while seated alone. (And you’ll get a seat all to yourself!) Or go to a sad one and cry and watch the space you get.

8. If an opportunity arises somewhere, tell someone that something they have or are wearing is really neat. Like, “Those are really great earrings.” Or, “I really like the color you did your hair.” You know when you meet those bordeline cases of folks with questionable self-esteem, such as myself and yourself, why not give them a little compliment?

9. Almost forgot! SMILE! Look folks directly in the eyes and smile. Maybe even say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays”.

10. You need to eat. Think of some place you’d like to eat. Ain’t nuthin’ wrong with eating alone. If you can afford it, get the steak or the shrimp or whatever. If you can’t afford it, get the cheaper thing. It’s important to keep your gut filled to stave off depression! TREAT YOURSELF to something good. I won’t suggest any restaurants (although Victor’s Pizza on Polk Street makes one mean Chicken Marsala and they’re great folks).

11. Meet someone walking a dog (a friendly dog, of course) — compliment the owner on the dog and ask about it — how old is the dog, what’s his/her name, ask if it’s ok if you can pet it. Let it jump up on you and lick your face. Make a big fuss over it.

12. Watch for happy, festive people — on the sidewalks, on the streets in cars — say hello, wave at them, be cheerful.

13. Tell some single mother dragging a load of kids that those are really neat kids, or what a pretty little girl or handsome young boy. Whatever there.

14. Check out stores which might be open … buy yourself something. Even a trinket, a keychain.

15. Buy a greeting card or two — later at home you can send them to Aunt Marge or an old friend you’ve not talked to in a while — just let them know that it’s Christmas Day and you’re thinking of them. Tell them that you love them.

16. Go to the beach … check out the Cliff House, buy a corn dog, smile at folks … walk along Ocean Beach walk there … alot of folks are there wanting some holiday cheer, too.

17. Find a bookstore if any are open … find a book — some good pulp or whatever — remember as you read it that it was your “Christmas Book.”

18. Round up all your old bread, cereals, crackers and such … crush them up … put in plastic bag and take to park and feed to birds. Even pigeons get bummed on Christmas.

19. On your way home, stop and get a pint of your favorite Haagen-Daas or Ben and Jerry’s or whatever … or get a cobbler or pie to cook … OR BOTH!!! Indulge yourself. Don’t bother with a damn bowl. Just open your pint of ice cream and get a spoon.

20. Rent a video/DVD … get one of your favorite old movies or something new. Put it on, mid-way put it on pause, and refer to #19.

And I could go on but why? Just get out there. Smile, be happy, give to others, make others happy, make yourself happy, do things that make you happy, enjoy yourself. Don’t be bummed that you may be alone … believe me … you are not. Yeah, sure, maybe this ain’t exactly Christmas as we have been led to believe it should be, but hey, why not try making it you own?

Like I said, I have been doing this for the past four years or so … I feel like I’ve been with people, and when I’m ready to come home and put on that video and get into that ice cream (Ben and Jerry’s “From Russia With Buzz” is my personal favorite) — I dunno.

But you know, I come home Christmas evening and feel good about having taken photos of groups of folks who will love those pictures forever, for having smiled at strangers, for finally breaking down and giving those pesky panhandlers some spare change, for treating myself to a nice meal, for being alive, for living in the Greatest City in the World …

There is so much great stuff in the world, and in this City of St. Frankie … it is really easy to make yourself up as you go along … it’s all up to you and … well, I have spent my last Christmas in a loonie bin … though some may think you/me might belong in one … but hey, it’s all up to you and to me and to everyone else. You can fill your day with little things which make you happy and more importantly, making other people happy. Even though that poor girl may wonder why you complimented her on her earrings. But I’ll betcha this: she is gunna wear them more often.

Peace, y’all. Life is what you make it. Give more than you take. Give little things. Enjoy whatever you may receive in return.

Strive to be happy. It’s not as hard as it might seem.

Peace, Love & Happiness to You All.

The City of St. Frankie has been very kind to me — throughout loss of friends, loss of jobs, much sadness … there is great happiness to be found within and without you. And this is the best place on this earth to experience it.

PLEASE … if you have some really horrible response to my good-will posting, please don’t send it to me.

I have only posted this because I have run into sooooo many lonely and dishearted folks this season. I open myself up here to let folks know what I do to beat the Christmas Blues!

“We cannot do great things on this earth. We can only do small things with great love.” — Mother Teresa