26/12/2025
The holidays have a way of reopening emotional files we thought were closed. Behavioral psychology shows that loneliness spikes and nostalgia intensifies during year-end rituals, which is why studies consistently find a surge in ex-partner contact between November and January, especially after breakups earlier in the year. Familiarity feels safer than starting over, and the brain often confuses emotional memory with emotional compatibility. But reconnection doesn’t always mean regression—it can be a mirror. Sometimes reaching back reveals what still needs healing, not rekindling. Growth isn’t about who comes back during the holidays; it’s about who you choose when the season passes.