Finding meaning in Christmas

The holidays can be a hard time for most people. I know, I have been there. I’ve put myself there more often than I would like, but I’m working on it. I’m working on not letting the holidays get me down or worry me because really, it shouldn’t be a source of worry or stress. It’s the hype and commercialism that’s been attached to it that makes us worry and stressed. Take that out, and we may find the true meaning of Christmas again.

I am not religious at all so it is hard for me to buy into the celebrating the birth of Christ idea. Besides, December 25 is not even his real birthday if you bother to do some research. It is what the birth of Christ symbolizes that is really being celebrated this time of year. At least I’d like to think so. I don’t think that this celebration is about how bright you can deck your houses, it’s not about how many gifts you get or receive or how expensive they are, it’s not about who can throw the most lavish parties or who has the best table settings, it’s not about gorging yourself on rich foods that takes you all year to lose the effects of, and it is definitely not about a fat man coming through your chimney to eat your cookies.

Here is what I think these holidays mean.

I think this time is when we try to sustain our belief in MAGIC. I am not totally against perpetuating the magic of Santa Claus, the Three Wise Men and the Tooth Fairy. I think every child need a dose of magic to believe in and I am not going to deny my children of that. They’ve been writing to Santa and setting out cookies for since they were able to and still do, albeit now more out of tradition than belief. I am not sad that they don’t believe in Santa anymore, it’s the natural progression of their growth. The belief that if you do something well and sincerely you can and may get the results you wish for. The belief that in this world, there is room to dream and magic can still be found.

This is also the time for LOVE. Love of family, of friends, of the world we live in. Sometimes I get irritated with people who say I love You so easily it’s like having A Nice Day. Love should not be taken so lightly or bandied about so easily. Love is a big deal. When you love someone you take on some responsibility for what you love. Be it family or friend, when you love them you take on some of the load of keeping them well. The same goes for things. If you love a thing, then you should take proper care of it, keep it clean and in working condition, and in a safe place where it can’t get broken. If you say you love animals, then you should do all you can to take care of them properly too. And if you say you love this world that you live in, then you should take care of it too and try not to minimize the harm you do to it.

Year’s end is also time for contemplating and time for THANKS. Be grateful for the blessings you’ve received this year be they be glaringly visible or not. Be thankful for being ALIVE to be even thinking of these things to begin with. You’re standing and breathing? Say thanks. Have you had enough to eat and have been relatively warm in the winter and cool in the summers? then say thanks. So what if you didn’t get the million dollar promotion or the shiny new car? Say thanks that you don’t have a stressfull job or a gas guzzling car. Even if you’ve lost a loved one, say thanks that through their legacy their memory stays with you forever. Even when you think you’ve had it worse than anyone, look around and realize you have much to be thankful for, even if you can’t see it right then.

REGROUP. I’ve grown out of making New Year’s resolutions. I take this time instead to look at how I have been living my life and remove the things that didn’t work, add some things I think will work, then work all year on making these things work. Regroup, reorganize, revitalize.