I think around the age of 13 or 14 I realized that Christmas just "wasn't as special" anymore. The reasoning behind this may have been the subtraction of Santa Claus in the Christmas equation or even possibly just the fact that us kids did not receive as many gifts as we used to. I mean, the amount of gifts my brother and I used to get were so exhaustive that we would literally build present forts on both ends of Grandma's living room that we could stand in back of and hide from each other in. It may also have been something to do with the fact that less of our family is around the area to celebrate Christmas. Either way, it just started to feel a little differently.
For the non-religious folk out there, Christmas is not the celebration of Little Baby Jesus. Us non-religionizers see it really as just a day that gives us a break from work or school, provides us with an outlet to give presents to those we care about (as well as receive), and to tell the people around us "hey man, you mean a lot to me so I'm going to eat some food with you or give you something cool to have." Things may not be the way they used to be but Christmas is something that everyone can appreciate and get something great out of.
"Rockin' around, the Christmas tree at the Christmas party hop. Mistletoe hung where you can see..every couple tries to stop." As this line speaks through the reverberating speakers in my car, I begin to get a little excited. With a scarf wrapped around my neck and a peppermint mocha sitting in the cup holder to the right of me, I am ready for a night of pre-Christmas joy.
Let me just say, tonight I felt alive. Rolling through the neighborhoods of Woodland Hills this evening there was something in the air. The cold chill running through the cracked open passenger window, the smell of peppermint mocha on my own breath, and the glow of "Merry Christmas" set in next to white icicles all created just the perfect atmosphere. Add one beautiful girl into this scene and you just have a hell of a night ahead of you. This is what Christmas time is about. Enjoying.
Enjoy the music you hear no matter how corny it may be. Enjoy the beverage in your hand, no matter how many calories you may intake. Enjoy the lights that people have hung on their houses because they have done it for years and years and it's just what people do. Especially enjoy the people you get to see this holiday season, no matter if it's just a few or just too many because those people are all in the same place celebrating the same thing...each other.
I am no preacher in any way but I do have two very important statements to make to anyone who feels Christmas "just isn't the same" as you have gotten older:
Enjoy Christmas just as much as you did as a child. Just because the excitement of Santa and the millions of presents aren't there doesn't mean that it isn't an amazing time of the year.
You aren't going to enjoy it for the same reasons but that's okay. This year, step back and appreciate what Christmas really is about and how good it truly can make you feel.
1 comment:
that entry, my dear is for all the Christmas Grinchs' out there. there are many, unfortunately.
bravo for starting a blog kenny! i'm a blogspot fan as well :)
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