Linda Nolan celebrates early Christmas despite battling cancer

In Ireland, Linda Nolan, a well-known singer, actress, and television personality, openly shares her experiences living with cancer, a disease that has affected her family. Her sisters, Anne and Coleen, have also faced battles with cancer, and the illness claimed the life of their sister Bernie. Despite the challenges she faces, Linda shares a recent episode where she fell in her room but thankfully escaped injury aside from feeling a bit shaken. Following this incident, she vacillated between feeling uplifted and overwhelmed by her circumstances. However, the onset of the festive season provided her with a boost in spirits. She highlights her enjoyment of early Christmas celebrations, which she and her friends adhere to with a rule of not starting before November. This included decorating for Christmas with her friend Denise and enjoying the camaraderie and cheer that comes with the festive atmosphere. Linda expresses her love for Christmas movies, despite recognizing that some may be overly cheesy. She specifically mentions enjoying the film 'The Holiday' and even considers renting the film's cottage on Airbnb for her family's next holiday. While many people express concerns about 'Christmas creep' — the early arrival of holiday festivities and its potential negative impact on mental health — Linda strongly believes that early celebrations positively contribute to her well-being. She further elaborates that although she finds gift wrapping laborious, she enjoys the process, especially when she pairs it with watching holiday films. Linda emphasizes that even the worst Christmas movies have redeeming qualities that make her smile. Throughout her candid column, she illustrates the duality of experiencing significant challenges while simultaneously embracing the joy and spirit of the holiday season. This juxtaposition reflects her resilience in dealing with the psychological weight that comes from her health battles. Linda’s perspective underscores the broader conversation about how festive traditions, even when they seem overwhelming, can serve as vital practices for maintaining mental health. For her, engaging in these traditions mitigates the gray cloud that sometimes engulfs her, and she conveys a heartfelt message that the festive season, in all its forms, is a source of comfort and joy in her life.