I’ve always
loved this time of the year – who doesn’t? Tis the season of joys and merriment
and even the pessimists and ‘joy killers’ amongst us take time off to enjoy
this period. Really, I love Christmas.
But this
year, I find myself with mixed feelings – happiness, weariness, depression and
many others I’m not sure I can name. I’m happy to be seeing yet another season
of joy but somehow, I find my joy being dampened by the myriad of gloomy news
that bombarded many of us this period – shocking and unexpected deaths of loved
ones, increased hardship for many friends and family members, a sense of hopelessness
over the state of the world and our strange ability to sink further into the
erosion of our values or should I say our humanity? When, if ever, will it end? I wonder.
From the
conversations around, I sense a different Christmas this year. Oh, people will
have fun and do all the merry things they usually do but for most, it will be a
front to hide the pain and despair beneath, or a balm to soothe aching spirits.
I doubt
there’s many amongst us who didn’t experience some form of heartbreak this year
- be it the death of a loved one or the loss of something close and dear to the
heart. Let’s not even talk about the many senseless tragedies in the news for
those are beyond words… like the ALUU 4 or the Connecticut killings. While that
and many others made the news, some didn’t - many lost family, their homes, their
marriages, their jobs in an economy that shows no visible signs of improvement;
many got diagnosed with life threatening ailments and were forced to face the
reality of a shortened life but worst of all, a number lost their faith in our
humanity.
So for many,
this Christmas will be celebrated but with a dark cloud hanging over. I’ve
chosen to take another path though. In spite of it all, I’ve chosen to look at the glass half full and celebrate this
season with all I’ve got because I need the hope of this season to peddle my
way through whatever is to come next. Besides, we have to get past now to enter
the New Year where hopes and dreams of a better future can be resurrected once
again.
I refuse to
get carried away by all the negativity of the year. If there’s one thing I’ve
definitely learned (something we all pay lip service to but forget every once
in a while), it’s that ‘when life gives
you a thousand reasons to cry, show life you’ve got a million reasons to smile’.
Now, at this very moment, writing on my table, I’m also busy counting my
blessings. I’m here this Christmas and I hope to see many more Christmases; my dad
may have died but he was in my mother’s arms surrounded by assurances of the
love of his family (many died in accidents or after many years of painful
illnesses so I don’t think my old man has any complaints wherever he is); my
income may have dropped due to bad economy but I’m still alive, healthy and
within reach of the opportunities that life has to offer (opportunities don’t come
to the dead, do they?); my kids’ may be driving me crazy with their many requests
this period but they are still here and I’m sure the ALUU 4 and Connecticut
parents along with many others who lost their kids this year would happily trade
those requests for their kids’ lives; my body may have gained a few pounds but
better that than to have it waste away on some debilitating disease. Yes, as I count,
I realize there are so many things to be thankful for this season and while I may
have some pain, I’m going to smile through them because that’s what people with
hope do. Besides, if you think you don’t have much to celebrate, think of
others who have so many reasons to be thankful and celebrate with them.
So, no
matter what happened to you this year or what your future fears are, for this
moment …in this time…right now …smile or better still, laugh out loud and be
grateful that you are here…again…at this time … in this moment to celebrate yet
another joyful season. May we see many more.
Merry Christmas!
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