Stop. Pause. Breathe. If people could learn tricks, that is what I wish I could tell them to do this time of year.
I’ve said before the holidays are a favorite time of mine, what with all the family time and music and snow and snuggling. There are few things about the holidays I don’t enjoy. But there is one thing in particular that gets to me. It happens every single year and seems to intensify as the countdown to Christmas continues.
People get rude. Pushy. Rushed. And completely inconsiderate of those around them. I don’t witness much of it in person, but I hear plenty of stories exchanged between my forever people to know what’s up. It drives me crazy. Not just because it’s the season of giving. Gratitude. Unconditional love. But because of the impact this behavior has. Negativity has an awful way of spreading like a disease no one can control, and while I would hate to see that happen at any point in time, it bothers me most around the holidays.
“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late,” suggested one of my favorite transcendentalist thinkers Ralph Waldo Emerson. If there is a reason to rush this holiday season, that’s the reason.
Because this is supposed to be a season of kindness. A season to share love with others who may otherwise not receive it. This is supposed to be a time of joy, and any ignorant person in a parking lot who steals a spot from an elderly lady or shoves their way in front of someone in line or loses patience with the overworked clerk who is only in the challenging position because the store is understaffed…well, they are doing nothing but stealing joy from other people. Not sharing it.
So I say stop. Pause. Breathe. Remember what the season is really about. It’s not about the gifts or the wrapping paper or the perfect Christmas tree. Its about joy. From the ground up, that is the real reason for the season.
Wiley's Wisdom 
I wish we could all be so wise. I was thinking this last weekend. I had gone to diner with friends and the talking was a l about rushing around to parties, shopping, putting up several trees at eachhouse, decorating….nothing about being still and enjoying beauty and joy of the season. I said something to this effect and was told, I don’t have time to be still, I have to have this shopping done, I have parties to to or prepare for. So I just sat back and thought of people I loved and ways to make them happy all year and to find joy every day. It is a good thing to think about.
Wow. Thank you for agreeing with me, dear friend! There’s definitely something to be said for simply being still this time of year. Though I do sincerely wish more were like us. 🙂
Lots of love to you this holiday season!
Wiles
And love to you and yours dear friend. ♡♡♡
You’ve simmered it down to what matters, Wiles. Kindness matters.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Amen, Wiles, Amen!
There’s a lot of stress for some families at Christmas – especially when they are struggling to just keep their heads above water – which is why I deplore the growing equality gap in our country
Oh I agree with you, Wiley ❤
I totally agree too, We make the stress ourselves…and other people are robbed of joy.
I so agree with you, some people think it’s enough when they smile under the christmas tree …. and they think the stores and the streets are a battle field… but there are no winners of that battle, we all will lose when we act that way :o(