Opinion

RachelAnn Degnan Columnist

The holidays are the best time of the year because of the feeling in the air that brings happiness and warmth to even the grumpiest around us. Abigail Duchow Columnist

I don’t think holidays are really as great as they’re made out to be by Hallmark movies. Holidays have become a commercialized plague of stress, money and health problems that include very little reward.

Stress and financial strain

A 2019 article published by PR Newswire found that 61% of Americans were “dreading the winter holidays due to spending,” with 57% specifically dreading Christmas. One in three Americans were losing sleep over how they’ll pay for the holidays, about 25% expected to incur debt during the holiday season, and nearly one in five were still paying off bills from the previous year’s holidays.

A study published by the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2006 found that 38% of people reported higher levels of stress during the holidays. This stress was disproportionately reported by women, with 44% of women reporting an increase in stress versus 31% of men. The reason for this discrepancy is that women more often reported taking on the primary responsibilities of holiday celebrations, such as cooking, cleaning and shopping.

As for the rest of the people, 54% reported stress levels staying the same, and only 8% reported a decrease in stress during the holidays.

Also found by the APA, people who have a lower middle household income

I know this all too well because this year, I wanted to be like the Grinch. I wanted to hate Christmas and despise anyone who participated in the holidays. Please don’t ask me why, I don’t quite know the exact reason.

It could have been that my heart was too sad, for I wanted to sit down at a table full of my loved ones and share a meal. I wanted to tell stories and watch my mother make the same seasonal jokes. I wanted my father to read the Christian Bible’s Luke chapter two like he did every year and talk about the birth of Christ. Lastly, I wanted to kick my older brother from under the table and make him jump at the most inopportune times. As December crept closer, I reminded myself I could have none of this. My brother was quarantined across the state, and both of my parents had passed away. In my sadness and anger, I decided I would hate Christmas this year.

I would hate having to leave my life in Ellensburg to go to my hometown and take care of my grandparents and little cousins. I would hate the amount of money I spent on gifts, and most of all, I would hate that dreaded Christmas Eve dinner with the multiple vacant chairs.

I didn’t have to go home, and I seriously considered spending my holidays binge-watching “Gilmore Girls.” But when I thought of my young cousins, aunt, uncle and grandparents, my heart was warmed, and I felt called home. between $30,000-$50,000 also report higher levels of stress around the holidays. Of the people in this income range, 53% reported their stress increasing during the holidays, versus 31% of people with lower incomes and 40% of people with higher incomes.

According to Statista, in 2019 about 20% of Americans have a household income between $25,000-$50,000, indicating the income group reporting the highest levels of stress make up a decent amount of the population.

APA found that people who reported increased levels of stress during the holidays are more likely than others to worry about the financial demands of the holidays. Of people who reported their stress increasing around the holidays, 76% reported often or sometimes worrying about money versus 55% of people who reported no change in stress.

Similarly, 70% of people who reported increased levels of stress during the holidays often or sometimes felt stress about buying gifts, versus 32% of people who reported no change in stress.

Another statistic worth noting from the APA is that 39% of people reported not being paid enough to afford the holidays and 27% of people reported losing hours at work they needed to pay bills being a very or somewhat significant factor of stress around the holidays.

As I walked through the front door, I could smell the spiced pecans my grandmother makes every year. The house was freshly decorated with the same Nativity scenes I had played with since I was young, and our traditional white stockings hung gingerly from the fireplace. I was surprisingly reminded of how tradition-based Christmas truly is.

According to PsychAlive, traditions remind us of where we came from and how much we have accomplished. For me, traditions remind me of a simpler time where I did not care about taxes or the constant growth of gas prices.

I felt a calming peace rush over me as I stood in the warm suburban home I had lived in most of my high school years and remember the holidays of my past. Growing anticipation for the Christmas dinner overwhelmed my heart, yet I continued to convince myself that I needed to be a Grinch, and I was not allowed to enjoy the holidays.

I struggled to keep my promise, and each day I felt happy and joyful to be surrounded with love, tradition and snow.

Harvard Medical School found evidence that a “lack of strong relationships increased the risk of premature death from all causes by 50% - an effect on mortality risk roughly comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and greater than obesity and physical inactivity.”

Spending time with family renews our mental and physical health. During the holidays everyone has a chance to heal and recover from the trouble that haunts their normal days.

There is a peaceful quietness that comes a few days before Christmas. The presents are wrapped, there is no homework or

Health problems

Chronic stress can have a large impact on physical health. According to Healthline, stress can lead to symptoms such as headaches, increased depression, insomnia, tense muscles, weakened immune system, high blood pressure and stomach issues, among others.

According to American Addiction Centers, people also tend to binge drink and increase alcohol consumption around the holidays. Not only does this apply around winter holidays, but holidays such as the Fourth of July, Cinco de Mayo and Thanksgiving.

While alcohol consumption may be linked to celebration, it should also be noted that alcohol can be used as a crutch during social situations and in times of stress, according to Very Well Mind.

Excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to heart conditions, high blood pressure, heart failure and strokes, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

According to Patient Care, numerous studies have found a link between the holidays and cardiovascular events including heart failure, cardiac mortality and acute myocardial infarctions (heart attacks).

So, with all this in mind, it’s no surprise that chronic stress combined with the influence of alcohol around the holidays leads to health problems. work and the entire town is sparkling with lights. All activities involve some form of bonding with loved ones, and even a nice brisk walk to look at your neighbor’s decorations warms the spirit.

There is a togetherness that spreads through our entire nation. Somehow, somewhere, everyone is with someone on Christmas.

We remember the homeless, the starving, the orphans, and the unloved and we donate or invite them into our homes to be a part of the festivities. After all, isn’t that how the Grinch learned to love Christmas? Maybe not in his original story, but modern-day stories teach the lesson that all it takes sometimes is a single act of kindness.

Just like that, my dreaded Christmas eve dinner was here. The Christmas tree was shining, the decorations were up and it was time to eat. The moment I was planning to hate the most out of 2020 had come. We all clasped hands, and my grandfather said a prayer.

I looked across the table and felt a sudden peace. Now I like to think I am not sentimental, but as I looked at my 12 and 9-year-old cousins and the smiles outstretched on their faces, I remembered being their ages and the joy and happiness I felt with my family.

For a grief-ridden moment, I imagined my parents sitting at the table with smiles that reminded me Christmas doesn’t come from a store, and Christmas perhaps means a little bit more. What happened then? Well in my household they say that my cold icy heart grew three sizes that day. The holidays are special because of the memories you make, so don’t take a single thing for

Making a case against the holidays

granted, that’s a mistake!

Conclusion

Holidays put very unnecessary pressure on people, particularly Americans. The commercialization and high expectations that come with the holidays have a great impact not only on people’s mental health but physical health as well.

There are many other factors that could be brought up about why the holidays may not be as great as they’re made out to be by movies and commercials. But, these are some of the most significant ways holidays have a negative impact on people’s lives and society.

Rather than the holidays making people feel obligated to go see family members that may create stress and buying extravagant gifts when money is already scarce, people should use time throughout the year to visit family when they actually want to and buy their friends and family nice things when they have the means to.

I personally don’t really celebrate holidays at all. But, until the mass commercialization and stress of holidays stop, I don’t think people who do want to celebrate can ever truly be happy celebrating.

Addie Adkins Columnist

We were told to “remember the 5th of November” and to “beware the Ides of March.” Now there will be a tale so cautionary about the 6 of January.

Only it won’t be a fictional one.

Jan. 6 started out like any other day for me. I made my family breakfast, we watched TV and I planned out my day which looked like any other day.

Around 11:30 a.m., I received a message from an old friend about the Capitol Building being breached by a mob of pro-Trump rioters and I was astonished. I hadn’t seen or heard anything about a protest, and I had been on Facebook most of the morning.

She sent me an article from the Washington Post. “Live updates: U.S. Capitol is on lockdown as protesters clash with police and breach the building,” the headline read. I scoured the entire article in a state of disbelief.

My first thought: “There’s no way this is happening.”

My first response: “This is disgusting.”

I had schoolwork to do. That didn’t happen. I think I made lunch and dinner, I’m not sure. I know I was on my phone way too much. I couldn’t look away.

I began pouring over article after article, video after video, trying to understand what happened, why it happened and what will happen going forward. Each new article or video brought on a new wave of disbelief, anger and anxiety.

According to NPR, at 1 p.m. EST, a joint session to confirm the Electoral College votes began. Vice President Mike Pence presided and declared to Congress in the form of a letter “that Amy Morris Columnist known to fail and be a strenuous experience by some people. However, I have a different outlook on them. I have been in a long he does not have unilateral authority to overturn the election results.”

Meanwhile, about two miles away at the White House, President Donald Trump held a rally. Trump’s personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, spoke before the president in a short address to the rally participant where at one point said, “So, let’s have trial by combat!”

After Giuliani spoke, Trump took the stage with an approximately 70-minute speech asserting his already disputed claims of election fraud, condemning “weak Republicans” and finally telling supporters to “fight like hell” and to march on the capitol.

Trump poured gasoline on an already burning dumpster fire.

According to NPR, a little after 2 p.m. distance relationship for over a year now, and it has taught me so much.

I will admit living close to the person who shares part of your heart is nice. Forming a relationship at the start can be hard though. With this generation it can be hard to know someone’s intentions. With dating apps and social media in play, a lot of people aren’t looking for a real connection. To be in a long distance relationship a person has to be committed. Long distance relationships also allow for an emotional connection to form before a physical one does. It can be easy to get caught up in physical attraction rather than actually forming one with the heart. Not everyone is good at long distance I will admit, but if that person is worth it then the distance won’t

”Scene on the Stairs” Brett Davis - Flickr

a mob of Trump supporters breached the steps of the Capitol building. It took only about 10 minutes after that for them to break down glass doors and windows to enter the building.

At 2:38 p.m., Trump tweeted out to his supporters to be “peaceful,” about a half an hour too late.

It took Trump a full hour and a half to direct the activation of the National Guard.

The hypocrisy of it all. Just 7 months ago on May 30, 2020, during a protest in front of the White House, Trump wrote on Facebook if anyone were to break into his front yard “they would have been greeted with the most vicious dogs, and most ominous weapons, [he had] ever seen.” matter. Taking the time to connect with someone as a person regardless of getting anything in return is a beautiful experience. I don’t think long distance is a good experience when it lasts forever, but when it’s only a couple months or years it’s not such a bad thing.

Being in a long distance relationship can make a couple appreciate the time spent together more too. I know I never take time spent with my person for granted.There are so many people in my life I see so often. However, when you don’t see someone every day the time spent becomes more special.

According to an article by The Atlantic, “long-distance couples report being more in love than those in the same place.” In contrast to that finding, long distance couples are also more likely to break up when they start living together compared to couples that aren’t long distance.

Visiting each other often for longer periods of time can be a good way to ease into the shock of living together that may lead to a break up. Long distance has its challenges and upsides but a healthy balance of staying connected versus having enough space is important.

Yet a group of his supporters were able to violently breach the Capitol building with what appeared to be little obstruction and attempt to break into the Senate Floor. No vicious dogs, no ominous weapons.

I’m transported back to four years ago where cries of “not my president” rang through many streets. Many people said things like, “we would never riot in the streets if our candidate lost.” I was just as flabbergasted at the protestor’s reaction in 2016, especially since Hilary Clinton conceded the election after seeing she would lose the electoral college.

This mob of extremists made a lot of those people eat their words. It caused a lot of people to lose faith in Trump. It caused a lot of people to lose faith in the strength of our democracy.

The most hopeful thing I am seeing is the level commitment of some of our elected officials to uphold the constitution and laws of our country, and to protect the American people. They are actually doing their job for once.

Unfortunately, I am also seeing a lot of misguided theories and undereducated responses to all of this. A lot of people still want to believe in Trump. A lot of people still want to believe that he is a better President than President-elect Joe Biden ever will be.

However, if people just spent an hour on reputable news sites reading articles or watching the speeches that happened that day just an hour before the insurrection on Capitol Hill, I really think the would see and hear how Trump is just a petulant, sore loser throwing a tantrum trying to get the referees to overturn the call.

How Trump and Giuliani haven’t been arrested for inciting a riot that caused the death of five people is

Reasons why being in a long distance relationship isn’t such a bad thing

Long distance relationships have been

beyond me.

I know a fear some people have is losing oneself in a relationship when they spend so much time with a person. Being in a long distance relationship allows a person to keep that independence outside the relationship.

However, staying connected is the most important aspect of a long distance relationship. According to research by the Gottman Institute, “happy couples turn towards their partners approximately 20 times more than couples in distress during everyday.” Staying connected can simply mean sending a text message, FaceTiming, watching TV virtually together or doing other activities that help a person feel closer to their partner.

When two people live in completely different locations they are living completely different lives as well. Without an effort to stay connected, there is no tie between those two people’s lives.

At the end of the day, I think long distance relationships have too much of a negative stigma when it’s really not all that bad. I’ve been told by so many people that my relationship wouldn’t last because we’re long distance. While long distance may require more effort to stay connected, it’s really not all that different than a normal relationship.