The most wonderful time of the year?

This time of year is always my favorite. I love the lights, the food, and the overall atmosphere that permeates the entire holiday season. I even love the music, up to a point. If I hear "Simply having a wonderful Christmas time" many more times this month, I'm going to freak out. If you've heard the song, you know what I mean. But all the traditions and holiday cheer only goes so far in covering up our natural human nature. When did the day to celebrate the birth of Christ become a chance for people to relish in their greed? When did it become a time when a worker at a Walmart is trampled to death by sale hungry shoppers at 5 a.m. trying to buy a LCD TV? When did we get so caught up in what WE want for Christmas that we forgot those living on the streets, where their only desire is a hot meal and a warm place to sleep?

It breaks my heart to see this holiday become a marketing and consumer driven quarter for businesses to make sales. Have you been to a retail store lately? Sure, their deals might be hard to pass up, but have you seen how cranky and crabby most shoppers and workers have become? The shoppers are on a mission to buy that pair of white socks for half price for their uncle who won't even wear them. And that Wii they just fought three customers for will end up unused in the closet by their spoiled nephew. All the holiday spending does is put us further in debt. Most gifts end up being regifted, given away, or broken. If it's the thought that counts, why don't we give them something that doesn't cost a fortune and will get used? Instead of a video game that will get played twice, how about zoo tickets so they can get away from the TV and maybe learn something besides how to steal cars and kill aliens. And heaven forbid they actually get outside and get some fresh air and exercise...

It's not all bad. Amidst all the greed and self-serving activities, there is still some good left to this consumerism-driven holiday. It just depends on where you look. Avoid the shopping malls. If you want to give a gift, make it something personal, something that person will really love, not something you just bought on sale. If you can't think of something personal, choose to spend some time together. Try to spend this season with loved ones. Plan cookie making parties, or make gingerbread houses. Go play in the snow. Spend some time doing something for those in need. Donate to a shelter. Try to do something that will serve others, and not yourself. And most importantly, keep the CHRIST in CHRISTmas.

In response to Rhiannon's blog...

My favorite point that Rhiannon brought up was this line: "I have learned that writing doesn't have to be fancy to get the point across; it can be simple." That truly is one of the biggest things to get out of this class. Most of the English classes I have taken have focused on the more creative side of writing. Sentences have to be eloquently written, the bigger and more creative the word, the better. But this class has definitely taught me that unless you are doing creative writing, most of the writing you do SHOULD NOT be in this format. We live in a fast-paced world where people don't have time to read every word written. You need to get to the point quickly and simply. While this may not encourage my creative side, I can really see how this form of writing is best for the work environment.