‘Tis the season to be jolly? Not for everybody.

There are those of us who get classically depressed around Christmas time. We hate the forced cheeriness, we resent being obliged to buy gifts for people we don’t like, we avoid the touchy family get-togethers, we hope to steer clear of all the palms held out for holiday tips.

We find the Christmas lights on houses in the suburbs bizarre, the greediness of children opening their Christmas and Hannukah gifts offensive, and the nativity scenes in parks distasteful. We deem holiday movies maudlin; holiday tinsel and decorations tacky; Christmas carols are nauseatingly redundant--and we loathe eggnog.

Moreover, a growing number of us feel we should save the forests by not cutting down evergreens to decorate a house for one week. And, oh yes, we don’t like being made to feel like Scrooge just because we aren’t joining in the ho-ho-ho.

If you’ve got your own story of holiday disaffection, your own angst about the forced merriment, come and share them with us at New York City Atheists’ Living Without Religion discussion and support group on Wednesday, December 9th at 7 p.m.

You’ll experience the camaraderie and goodwill of like-minded atheists who will understand your feelings and feel your pain, under the leadership of psychotherapist and atheist Linda Blaikie, L.C.S.W.—who admits that she herself isn’t keen on holiday hilarity.

The Living Without Religion workshop was recently started by NYCA following the concepts of Dr. Darrel Ray of Kansas City, who has started Recovering from Religion groups all over the country. Dr. Ray recognized that people who have separated from their religion need the support of others who have gone through it or are in the process of going through it.

Dr. Ray’s idea is to meet in small groups of six to 10 people, follow simple guidelines that ensure meetings are productive and provide support for those who attend. “Nobody has all the answers, but we think there are answers to be found in openly sharing and discussing,” Dr. Ray advised.

NYCA’s discussion leader, Linda Blaikie, a practicing licensed psychotherapist since 1974, worked for three years in a mental health clinic before she went into private practice, which she continues to this day. She has dealt with problems of depression, anxiety, relationship issues, work issues and phobias. Her approach to the Living Without Religion workshop is, however, one of an open group of peers who offer friendship, wisdom, commonsense and logic to their fellow atheists.

Join us, you are not alone! Come on Wednesday to take part in, examine and enjoy the atheist point of view in solving life’s problems!

Learn how common-sense, logic and down-to-earth solutions can be shared with friendly, like-minded people! Share your feelings and questions with caring atheists.

WHAT: “How to Deal with Families and Friends Who Celebrate Christmas Rites,” a problem-solving workshop led by Linda Blaikie, L.C.S.W.

WHEN: Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Address of meetup (private home) will be provided to those who RSVP

PHONE [masked] to RSVP.

COST: Free to members. If you are not a member, you may become a member at the workshop.

New York City Atheists is a 501C not-for-profit association dedicated to the separation of church and state and to promoting the atheist life style and values. All are welcome, including agnostics, humanists, secularists, freethinkers, skeptics and those who are questioning and seeking.