Happy in Whoville
On my wander through town to work, the shops and people all seem to be something from The Grinch. No, no, I don’t mean my fellow Bedfordians have all turned in Who’s, but it seems as though Christmas is the be all and end all of December.
Everyone is, much like in Whoville, buzzing around, flitting from shop to shop like festive flies, searching for those final items to cross off the seasonal shopping list. Whether it’s those socks for Dad (so cliché, I know) or grabbing a few last minute boxes of mince pies for Boxing Day celebrations (because somebody already ate the first box…)
It’s as though Christmas wouldn’t happen were it not for the gifts and presents and copious amounts of food. But, is that really what it’s like? Do we need all these fancy nice new things to make Christmas special?
Whether or not you’re a Christian, as long as you celebrate Christmas, long has the ideology of family been the main concern for this Yuletide season.
Christmas is family time, to be spent with those we love.
Whether you believe Christmas is about the family, the presents, the celebration of another year passing and the start of the final week until New Year or you don’t believe in it at all, it always brings a sort of thoughtfulness out of people.
Some people will spend ridiculous amounts of money on gifts for people- would you do that on their birthday? Every year? Just seems we become more charitable around Christmas, free to flash the cash (that we don’t have) to buy gifts and food for people we’re not even that keen on.
But then you spare a thought for the people who don’t have a home or family this Christmas, who definitely won’t have presents. All the homeless people I see around town…
Not everyone will have a home this Christmas…
I think, ‘Where will they be on Christmas morning? Who’s going to cook them a Christmas dinner or give them nicely wrapped presents?
And the sad truth is, that the season cannot motivate charitability in everyone. I don’t deny that I won’t be at a soup kitchen this December 25, nor will I be handing out £1 coins on the streets.
BUT, there are some people who do work with the homeless and displaced, and will give them something to smile about.
Throughout all the snow, the gale force winds and the lashing rain that I can currently hear tap-tap-tapping on my window, they’ll be outside, with nowhere to go, because they have nobody.
I think I perhaps take for granted what I have. When it’s happening, I don’t appreciate it enough. Maybe I don’t smile enough, or say thank you enough, or show love to my family or boyfriend enough. I have a home, and people who love me, and somewhere to sleep. It doesn’t matter if I’m a skint student and can’t afford many presents.
All that matters is I realise what I have, and be more thankful for it.
Who said Christmas is a time for giving? I’m taking the whole experience. And it’s making me a better person.
lots of words 