Up until a few years ago, on FM4 – which, by the way, is the Austrian radio station I am listening to the most – there was a special radio show that was broadcasted live, every year, for the whole morning of December 24th. It was named “Christmas Without Friends” and was aimed at all listeners for whom Christmas was indeed a lonely festival or who “just” felt lonely during that very special time of the year. It was always two hosts who sat behind the microphones. Two who had a particularly warmhearted connection to each other – something they would ideally also “transmit” out into the ether, to share those “vibes” with their listeners for a few precious hours that day. Even though I am also a person, who has got not the best relationship with many facets of modern day Christmas this radioshow kept on fascinating and moving me each time I had a chance to listen to it. Not only that. The show’s hosts and producers taught me that such sensitive topics like loneliness can be addressed in a very easygoing and dignified way – even on the radio. I, too, had years were I belonged to this group of lonely listeners – no matter if it was me being at work at Christmas or simply because I just felt alone near the end of the year.
This post is dedicated to all those who have felt or feel similar in the coming days. This also and particularily includes every lonely person who has no one nearby who might join them eating and enjoying any of this year’s Christmas Cookies.