"It's okay to not join family gatherings that are toxic!" - KZN Listener
The festive season is almost here which means it's time to choose peace.
The last two years have been a rollercoaster of a ride.
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While it wasn't always the best of times, it has forced a lot of people to reevaluate their lives and do serious introspection.
It also put mental health in the spotlight in a major way - almost unlike anything we've ever seen before.
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That being said, one of the big reasons people's mental health was suffering is because they might have been alone, stuck in complete isolation for weeks - even months - or they couldn't see loved ones for fear of putting them at risk for COVID-19 infection.
People spent birthdays, the festive season and other generally special occasions separated from the ones they love and it was heartbreaking.
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On the opposite side - the pandemic offered the perfect excuse to those who always have to attend these gatherings even though it's a completely toxic situation and no fun at all.
These individuals were more than content with being home alone, enjoying the time to themselves instead of being forced into a familiar situation where they would be counting down the seconds until they could leave.
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However, now that traveling is back on the table again and hanging with friends and family is very much a possibility again, plans need to be made because there are no excuses.
A Mbali recently reached out to Stacey and J Sbu about this situation and she was not holding back, but she was also spitting some truths.
Take a listen to hear what she had to say:
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Main image courtesy of iStock/AaronAmati