Shades of Grey

   It is that time of year again. The time of year where retail outlets, grocery stores, malls, and even small boutiques conveniently skip Thanksgiving as a Holiday and move straight on to Christmas. They gloss over this by claiming that it is PART of the "Holiday Season".  The fact that when people think of Thanksgiving and think Fall colors and Pilgrims, not snowflakes and read and Green appears to be irrelevant. Some stores even begin pumping out Christmas music by November 1st.
   People become reminded that "OH MY GODS! I haven't begun my Christmas Shopping YET!!!!" They begin the march to the malls and Wal-Marts of the world, pushing and shoving their way to that "perfect gift" that someone ABSOLUTLY must buy. Because it is the "best" or "least expensive price in town".  People fight over Barbie Dolls that their children "have to have" for Christmas. They line up at midnight the night before to be there when the doors open to purchase the "hottest new Christmas Toy" And somewhere in all of thus hustle and shoving and hurry and worrying....the real reason behind it all is lost.
   Now, I know that many of you who are Christians are nodding and saying "the birth of Christ" and yes, that is part of it. But depending on your religion, there are many other reasons for the celebration of the season. For Pagans, it is a celebration of the Sun. December 21st is the SHORTEST day of the year, however, every day after gains more sunlight once again.  So the Pagans would celebrate this day the Winter Solstice with feasts and celebration that the darker days were over and light would be flooding back into their lives.
    Being raised Christian, I understand that in general, the Christian celebration is a similar philosophy.  THe birth of the "SON" brought with it the end of "darker times" (or negative times). He brought a flood of "light" to the world, that He would be their salvation. Similar idea.
     However, somewhere in all the commercialism, the Holiday has been lost. People often talk of the "Holiday Spirit".  What is the Holiday spirit? I'm sure we all know. But how many of us remember when we are faced with the 4 mile barely moving traffic on "Black Friday"? So today, I am going to just send out a little reminder.
   Do not think that I am infallible.  I too have occasions where I forget the Holiday Spirit. With so much commercialism shoved down our throats, how can we not get cought up in the mess occasionally?  I personally think that television commercials an stores have ruined the Holidays for eternity.  Whenever possible, time allowing, I like to MAKE my holiday gifts. I haven't done this in about 3 years now. At least. Somewhere along the way, I forgot WHY I was bothering. I lost interest and drive and fell into the capitalistic view of Christmas.
    This year, although I still do not have TIME to make my gifts, and despite the actions of others, I have decided that I am going to KEEP the Holiday Spirit. I will stay positive, in the face of adversity. I will not HURRY HURRY HURRY so fast that I forget where I am hurrying to, or even why I was hurrying in the first place.  I have gotten through my main stress of the Holiday. My DAUGHTER'S gifts. 
    Commercialism at it's worst....she requested "Barbie and The 12 Dancing Princesses". The movie, the dolls (all 13) and anything else I might have found along the way to go with it. The insane cost of this request made me cringe. As it is, for her alone, I have spent OVER $110. My Christmas buidget per person? $20.  And for my sisters, understanding that we each have 2 children of our own that we are busy spoiling (almost), we agreed to spoil each other's children as well, instead of each other. We spend $10 per COUPLE. Then waste money on the girls. It also factors in that both sisters seem to have a thing for men and children with Holiday Birthdays.  With  3 neices, 1 sister, and 2 Brothers-in-law with Birthdays between Nov. 7th and Dec 24th, Holiday Gifts and Birthday gift juggling becomes quite common in my family.
    With my daughter out of the way however, through the sheer genious of spreading the stupid dolls through the family tree, I have managed to still get her something educational as well that I KNOW she will enjoy. The dolls will come from Santa, and somehow, I managed to slip gifts from mommy and Daddy through the radar as well. 
     The next task to tackle, my brother-in-law's birthday, my 2 neices birthdays and somehow slip Christmas gifts through as well. Before the deadline Dec. 24th also my sister's birthday. Seems pretty simple, until we throw in car insurance, car payments, my consolidation, work time, choir time, Physical Therapy Time, appointments for my back, Appointments for the baby, and my husband's work schedule and the limitations of only one car. Begin tearing hair out now....
   So here is where the purpose for this entry arrives. WHAT IS the HOLIDAY SPIRIT? Simply put it is the spreading of Positive Energy.  It is the power of the old Holiday Movies and the wonderful things at the ends. It is The town of "Who-ville" coming out to sing hand in hand whithout gifts or decorations. It is the wonderful relization that loving your family, your friends, and neighbors. HAVING family, HAVING friends, and HAVING people that love you, is the greatest gift you can ever have. GIVING to others is a joy in itself. Making them happy. Spreading the positive energy, aka the light, and pushing out the negative energy, aka the dark.
    So I challenge each and every one of you to go out today, tomorrow, and every day between now and the holiday, whichever you may celebrate, and smile at the Salvation Army Bell Ringer, maybe even drop in a dollar, or more if you can afford. Smile at your coworkers, the old lady screaming at a poor cashier, at the cashier, at the people out shopping, your dog, your neighbor, your family. Spread your love and positive energy around. All those holiday songs being pumped out of the sounds sytems at the stores, embrace their meaning (if not their melodic intrusion), and spread it to everyone you know. When you get a nasty cashier at the store. Smile and wish them a Happy Holiday. If you ARE the cashier and you get a cranky customer, smile (genuinely) and ask them about their holiday plans, their children, grandchildren, anything. Enhance their positive. They will walk away with a smile, and a lighter step, and spread that joy to others, and others to others, and so on. And maybe this year, Some Scrooge, or Grinch will again realize the "Holiday Spirit". Just as you have it in your heart now. No matter how stressful, REMEMBER that this holiday is about love, friendship, family, and as linus says (and the bible) "peace on earth, goodwill toward men" Be the Angels from the Bible in the story of Christ's birth and "Spread the good news".
   And above all have a Happy Holiday Season my friends, my family and my loved ones!