Life is Beautiful
The holidays are such a, well, tricky time of year. They tend to mean something different to
everyone – starting with the fact that people are celebrating all different
kinds of holidays.
I grew up in a family that could easily be described as a sort of “Leave
it to Beaver” cliché and as a young adult I have come to realize what a rare
gift that is in our complicated world.
When I come home for the holidays I look forward to spending time with
family, laughing with my siblings, eating too much Peppermint Bark, and
scrambling for that last minute present because I most certainly forgot someone
on my list.
I look to others in my life and know that if they were to illustrate
with words the scene at their home for Christmas or Chanukah or, simply, ‘the
holidays’, it might be more complicated or less idyllic. There might be family members not in
attendance and their absence leaves a deep void. There might be fewer presents, if any, under
the tree due to the unstable financial position of a home. The list can go on and on and the only shoes
we truly know are the ones that we walk in day in and day out. I can’t begin to try and understand the world
of ‘Celebrating the Holidays’ that exists beyond the table I sit around every
year. I simply don’t know it.
We were watching a Country Christmas Special on television the other
night and many of the artists were commenting on the holiday season and their
song selection prior to performing. The
lead female in A Band Called Perry was asked why she enjoys singing Christmas
songs. Her response was powerful in its
simplicity: because everybody knows the
words and for that 3 minute moment in time we all come together and live in
unison.
As I look around at the environment that is built around us between
approximately November 15th and January 2nd I can simply
say that I choose to see its beauty. The
flowers, lights, bright colors, and shiny décor are begging us to smile and be
in awe of this great nation – to come together, if even just for a moment.
We might all attach the holiday season to various meanings, some more
positive than others, but hopefully we can all come together and agree that it
is a time to try and find something in life to celebrate and be in awe of each
morning – even if just for a moment.
If the department stores, hotel lobbies, or festive restaurants aren’t
enough to try and bring out the spirit of beauty then at least ‘Google’ Clark
Griswold and look at his lights display.
I can almost guarantee that it will put a smile on your face as it has
been doing for viewers of many generations.
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