It might be a little bit tougher for some this year for oodles of really good reasons, but the season to give thanks is nigh upon us as we hit mid-November. And while this may be a holiday season unlike any other in memory, our calendars dictate that special times are right around the corner. I’ve often pondered why we can’t just be nicer 12-months a year, instead of at Thanksgiving and Christmas time. Do we really need a calendar to tell us to treat people more kindly, or be more cheerful and thankful? After all, if we do it now, can’t we do it later, too?
Are those human traits such a stretch that we can’t take the wonderfulness of this season and stretch it out? Stores hold “Christmas in June” sales, so why can’t more people celebrate with Christmas attitudes that last beyond this 45-day window through News Year’s Day? Of course we can. We can ratchet our empathy levels up a notch regularly. We can sincerely thank people for the things they do and the things they mean to us more regularly.
Praising people you work with, jog with, or live with need not be exclusive November and December events. April’s a great month to be more consciously competent. July’s a hot time to give someone a gift card. October’s a cool month to be more aware of friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors. With some people, it almost feels forced when they turn on the charm for just a month or so around winter holidays. But, at least we know they’ve got it in ‘em!
And by the way, if eggnog is so good (which it is) why don’t we drink it year round? It’s kinda like the occasional McRib tease- only showing up on rare occasions. Why? And can’t we stuff turkeys and slather on the cranberry sauce in February? I’m pretty sure there’s no local ordinance against that endeavor. Let’s become creatures of helping, and not so much creatures of habit. Eat, drink, and be merry whenever. And let’s also pile on the sincere caring, volunteering, donating, giving, and listening so badly needed 12-months a year. Yeh, it’s been a tough 2020. But let’s not Scrooge it up by losing sight of our faith in humanity, ourselves, and the reality that we will get to the other side of this debacle.
Think about it…