The holidays are a time of togetherness--with lots of fun and laughter. But, for some, this timeof year can also be one of the most depressing and most tragic times of the year. Just think about some of our favorite Christmas classics, and you can see examples of why the holidays might not be so merry for everyone...

Through most of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge is a lonely old man, who sits in his dungeon of a house or icebox of an office. Then, there's The Gift of the Magi, where Jim and Della don't even have enough money to buy each other a Christmas present. In Little Women, Jo says, "Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents." And, Meg says, "It's so dreadful to be poor!"

In fiction, the end is usually happy: Scrooge has a change-of-heart, Della and Jim sacrifice what was most dear to each of them, and Jo and her sisters have a wonderful holiday after all. If only real experiences could always have such happy endings... Wherever you are in the world, and whatever you're experiencing this holiday season, I wish you some bit of happiness. Perhaps you can take heart in these classic remembrances of fictional characters.