Editorial: 12/17/10

Something happens at this time of year. And the risk of sounding clichéd, it’s straight up magical. There’s all this good will swirling around in the air, coasting on the currents of blustery winter winds. Holiday cheer populates the streets and permeates our homes and workplaces.

Holiday cheer is what drives us into our homes to light fires and spend times with loved ones — breaking out the board games and cookie recipes, laughing uproariously. It enables us to joyfully buy each other gifts and give great big bear hugs to friends. This spirit entices us to travel long distances and undergo sacrifice to share what we have with others.
In short, people are friendlier in the holidays! Some would contend that this is a false cheerfulness — but so what. It’s still a sweet and beautiful thing, that affects even some of the most secular of us. Of course, there are those who dislike the holidays and the rush of happiness they bring.

But those people are humbug–grinches.

However, I must concede that there is something wrong with the way we treat and approach the holidays. And I’m not going to go that old well worn path, in which people decry all the December hubbub as, “It’s too commercialized!” and “It’s sacrilegious!” and “The commercials are too dang loud and it’s too dang cold and cookies hurt my goldarn teeth!” The whole gift giving aspect of the holidays has become a bit frenzied, to be sure. But who can really complain about those sweet deals the stores roll out just around this time?

No — what I am complaining about has to do with the holiday cheer I hold so dear. Not that there is a surplus to it, but that there is not enough. And I don’t mean just during the months of November and December.

Think about it — when’s the last time a random stranger on the street smiled and waved, or wished you a good day? Probably in the past week or so, accompanied with a “happy holidays.” But what about before that? Even during a happy month, like July? People are barely ever as nice to each other as they are during the holidays. But during the holidays, we discover how effortless it is to just put a bit more pep in our steps. Why can’t we extend this sort of unconditional love of life to the rest of the year?

Here’s an example. Many of us choose to volunteer or donate during the holidays. It’s a great way to give back to the community, and put the entire spirit of the holidays in perspective. Yet, on days like Thanksgiving and Christmas, soup kitchens and the like often have too many volunteers. The thing is, there are people in need of assistance throughout the year. Why should it take a holiday to roll around to get us up off of our butts and help out?

And even beyond that, we can improve on just spreading the general good nature that people gain around the holidays. Does it really take gifts of brownies, cookies, and stocking stuffers from several different people to get you to stop being such a sourpuss, average–disgruntled–working–drone? How about showing courtesy and kindness to passerby throughout spring and autumn? It can’t be too hard. All we need to do is realize that there is this inherent niceness within us, and that we need only dig a little bit to easily summon it forth. There’s no need for over the top caroling and dancing 24/7, only just a simple smile, a little wave, a “how do you do?” That’d be nice.