Is It Time To Rethink Tradition?

I struggle with Christmas. It’s a very romantic and sentimental time of year. From the time we are children up to the day we die, we are all fed these idyllic stories of love, peace, generosity and gratitude on a backdrop of white, fluffy snow and uplifting music. Christmas is a time to dream and a time to show how much love is in your heart. That’s the fantasy, anyway. I used to love this time of year but for reasons I won’t bore you with, I grew to not love it so much.

Gifts are the focal point of most people’s Christmas experience. Gifts can be a lot of fun to both give and receive. For different reasons, gifts can become a source of grief and a source of joy. Sometimes they are even a source of indifference. We all know Christmas was meant to be so much more than gift giving, but it gets cheapened, anyway. For some, gifts provide an opportunity to engage in manipulation (not much fun if you’re on the receiving end of that). All said, gifts don’t prove anything to anyone. They are not a measuring stick for love. Christmas isn’t about holding people responsible for your happiness, but people fall into that trap all the time.

Whether you give gifts or not at Christmas, how about making a list of intangible things to give to those around you? Give the gift of unconditional love (meaning no conditions required for me to love you). Give the gift of compassion to those who are struggling emotionally. Give the gift of time. Take the time to listen and to be available to those who need you. Tell people you love them and appreciate them. Let people know what you like about them. Set out to speak words that lift people’s spirits. Make a point of connecting emotionally with people, even if it’s only over a phone call.

This has been a strange year for a lot of us and things are getting weirder still. I think the best gift we could give anyone this Christmas is the gift of human connection. I wish that for all of you from the bottom of my heart. Merry Christmas, from me to you.