It can't be Christmas every day... why not?

I remember growing up and thinking to myself how amazing it would be if every day was Christmas.

Presents every day... people being nice to each other... helping each other out... much kinder than at other times. Seemed like a good idea to me!

... but then I was reminded of a story from my younger days about two children, one of whom ate just sweet things and the other that ate more salty foods... the one who ate just sugar and sweets became very ill because although feeding the 'sweet tooth' it was an unbalanced diet and 'too much of a good thing' was equally bad for you.

This year I stayed in the UK with my family and had a chance to reflect on what for me was a typical Christmas of my childhood and early adult life... It has been 3 years (or more) since I last did the "English Christmas" of my childhood days, and things look very different to me now. I don't think it is the fact that I'm older and as people often say the magic goes out of Christmas when you get older.... it is more to do with changes in me as an individual over the past 3-4 years and the emergence of a very different perspective.

I now question everything that I do. I no longer blindly continue what I used to do, nor follow accepted norms. If I feel something doesn't serve me, or my values, then I choose not to do it. This is all of course with the balance of supporting others around me as well... we are social beings after all.

The whole principle of a celebration around the time of Christmas; the shortest day, starting afresh in a new year, I absolutely love. The idea of turning a corner, reflecting, making decisions about the coming year, during the long dark nights is something I relish and look forward too.

I guess the bit that irks me about this time of year is the whole commercialisation... the endless parties, the expectation of gifts... the huge waste of money buying things that end up in landfill soon after, or things we just buy because "we have to get them something". Many of the presents we just wouldn't buy normally... just things to give... because we are made to feel we are some kind of bah-humbug if we don't follow suite.

Time out for me... I am no longer following this money fuelled festival... not like this anyway!


And yet... there are still plenty of gifts we can give... and not just at Christmas... kindness, compassion, time, support and help... generosity, humility... mercy... gratitude... even if Christmas is to retain some gift exchange let us also bring back balance... rather than this debt driven frenzy of spending.

Perhaps the true meaning of "I wish it could be Christmas everyday" ... is the meaning... that if Christmas is about giving (without expecting return), about being kind, and helping other people... then I would definitely like it to be Christmas everyday... when we strip away the commercial side and have the true 'feeling' of the Christmas period restored... then we not only could have Christmas every day, we really ought too! ... we just need to work at it!

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