I'm Tired of Feeling the Grinchy Spirit!

[Vela]

Christmas is not what it's supposed to be anymore and I'm personally tired of feeling disillusioned and and let down by the idiotic things people seem to be trying to do to ruin the holidays! Where is the love we are supposed to have for each other? It doesn't matter what color or race or religion, we are all PEOPLE. Why can't everyone agree to disagree about things we might NOT have in common, and come together over the things we do. I want MY OLD CHRISTMAS BACK! Yes I BELEIVE IN CHRISTMAS! If you don't that's okay, enjoy what you DO beleive in. I am not taking my tree down, I am not going to hand out cards that don't convey MY feelings. No more, I am taking back MY christmas, and I think you should all do the same for whatever YOU choose to celebrate.

Go to the store with a smile, let someone have your parking space, give a dollar to the guy with a bell. So what if people think you are nuts! If people would even just SMILE at each other the whole world would lighten up. Buy a present for the Toys for Tots, let someone ahead of you in line, take simple gifts to an old folks home or a homeless shelter...

I don't know why I'm babbling, I just suddenly got hit with a need to change things if even for myself or someone I know. We don't HAVE to let the grinches of the world steal our happy and giving spirits if we keep it alive for ourselves! Go out and do something unexpected and nice for someone else, and you'll feel a lot better too.

[wolflady]

Oh Vela, I know exactly what you mean! It certainly seems that Christmas isn't the same as it used to be...even 5 years ago. It is so sad that people are just so mean and PC these days. It used to be strangers smiling at each other in passing, holding doors open for people, letting someone merge on the highway without being a jerk about it...and so on.

I agree...I'm going to do Christmas MY way this year. I'm going to smile at people, even though most of them will avert their eyes. I'm still going to hold doors open for people, even though they don't utter so much as a thank you. I'm going to send my CHRISTMAS cards to all of my loved ones, because I want to wish them a Merry Christmas...and you know what? They won't get mad about it, even if they aren't Christian. Why? Because it's the time of year to be happy, celebrate our families and friends and all of the gifts in our lives.

**hugs**

[moosmom]

Vela,

What a great thread and SOOOO true. Christmas to me has become so commercialized. Everyone is in a hurry and short tempered. I've been trying to do a random act of kindness every day. I hold a door, help someone put their groceries in their car, help out an older person, stuff like that. It makes me feel good. I've also tried to be more pleasant, saying "good morning" to people and smiling. Life is just too short to walk around being angry all the time.

[kimlovescats]

I agree, and it saddens me as well. Like you said, just go ahead and be the one who spreads Christmas cheer, even if people don't reciprocate! It will make your heart feel better and although it isn't obvious, it will probably make those people feel better as well!

[Laura's Babies]

I agree, we need to take Christmas back and have it like it use to be. I don't have a "Holiday Tree" I have a CHRISTMAS TREE!"

[chocolatepuppy]

Great thread Vela. Christmas just goes by way too fast. It seems I'm always so busy and then it's over. Not enough time to enjoy it

[Giselle]

When I'm feeling like the world around me is collapsing, I just list 5 things that I would want to do regardless of money, time, or whatever. Then I make a list of things I know I am able to do. If/When I finish that second list, I'll make another. Even if people around me are not reciprocating that same hearty feeling, I'll still have consolation in knowing that I contributed to society. I remember there was a little story about a man who would have refrained from committing suicide if just one person had smiled at him or given him recognition. Ultimately, he died. I don't remember if it was true, but even if it wasn't, it holds a strong message: The simplest things we do shape not only the future of ourselves but of everybody else, as well.

In this day and age, we're all about self-improvement. Unfortunately, self-improvement causes some people to look a little too far into themselves. In a world of falsehood, a single good deed is a revolution in itself.

[Twisterdog]

My husband and I just had a heated discussion about this tonight.

I have never been one to buy my son "everything" he wants or spends an excessive amount of money on Christmas. I just don't think that is what it is about. I buy him a few nice things, sure ... but I also do things like getting a few of his favorite candy bars and packs of gum and wrapping them up. I want him to learn it's the thought and the love that counts, not the dollar amount.

My husband, OTOH, has always spent thousands of dollars on his kids. He seems to think they won't be happy and won't have a "good" Christmas if they don't get mountains of expensive presents.

We're trying to meet in the middle, since this is our first Christamas together since getting married, but it's tough. He's saying, "But we can afford it. It's Christmas. I just got my bonus check ..." and I'm saying, "But we don't need to do it. It's not the point ..." *sigh*

I'm just not feeling the Christmas spirit. I'm feeling like an ATM machine.

[JenBKR]

I am so glad that you started this thread. I haven't really felt much in the Christmas spirit this year, and I wasn't really sure why. But I think you all hit the nail on the head for me...Christmas doesn't seem to be the way it used to be. It has always been a magical time for me, of giving and love. But it seems that in the last few years it's gertting more and more about getting the best, most expensive gifts. I think that to change my feelings, I will change myself. I will also smile, help others when possible, even if I don't get a thank you.

Thanks for starting this thread, it's good to know it's not just me feeling this way.

[Anita Cholaine]

I agree with everybody here. I just can't feel the Christmas spirit that I used to feel when I was little. It's so commercialized, like if the only way we had to show our love would be by buying the most expensive presents.

Everybody gets so violent and stressed. It's incredible the ammount of accidents there are here on Christmas eve. It's so sad that for lots of people, the best way of celebrating is by drinking in excess and losing control.

You're so right, Chrstmas is not what it is supposed to be anymore. At least there are many of us who are planning to celebrate it in the old way

[finn's mom]

I don't shop during November and December, because the whole commercial aspect of Christmas is overwhelming and disappointing. But, as far as taking Christmas back, I never gave it up in the first place. I say "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays" to everyone I can. If someone wants to say something negative back, that's the chance I take, but, I haven't had that happen yet. People either return the salutation, or say nothing (and I don't always take it to mean they don't celebrate Christmas, sometimes they don't hear me or it's a surprise to be greeted at all to them and they are shocked!). Anyway, I know what the holidays mean to me, and, honestly, just because I say "Merry CHRISTmas" doesn't mean I'm celebrating anything to do with Jesus. I'm not a religious person in the slightest, so Christmas to me, take it or leave it, is simply a reminder to love your family, friends, neighbors, etc. I think it's sad that people are so afraid to share the spirit nowadays. I am hopeful, though, that people will go back to what they believe in.

[jackmilliesmom]

What a wonderful thread you should see my thread about my husband and his Christmas Spirit - to me that is what Christmas is about and I truly believe that we should all live by that standard. Whilst most of my family close and extended buy gift vouchers at christmas my husband and I buy little gifts for each person and then we enclose a gift voucher also but that comes with their New Year Card and they get their little present on Christmas morning which I thnks is all part of the magic. We do not go in for expensive gifts as we feel that money is not the root of the Chirstmas spirit.

[borzoimom]

Vela- I could not agree more! and When did people stop caring? And donate to a " clothes closet" at a church etc.. Help someone with their cart- .. We are taking our Christmas back too..

[mruffruff]

I started to do this a couple of years ago, but I do it all year long. Open doors for others, give heartfelt compliments, give free bread to a needy neighbor, etc.

I still give my granddaughter a couple of gifts at Christmas, but I don't go wild. She doesn't need a lot of "stuff", so I put something into an account for her instead.

One year Santa left a dog house for a tied-out puppy.
Earlier this year I collected furniture for a family without any.
This Christmas I'm building a dog house for a needy Great Dane.

Jackmilliesmom's husband is my hero. He really has the Christmas spirit.

[Miss Z]

It doesn't matter what color or race or religion, we are all PEOPLE. Why can't everyone agree to disagree about things we might NOT have in common, and come together over the things we do. I want MY OLD CHRISTMAS BACK! Yes I BELEIVE IN CHRISTMAS! If you don't that's okay, enjoy what you DO beleive in. I am not taking my tree down, I am not going to hand out cards that don't convey MY feelings. No more, I am taking back MY christmas, and I think you should all do the same for whatever YOU choose to celebrate.

I'm in total agreement there! It was on the news the other day that the majority of businesses are not allowed to put up decorations in the office as it offends people of other religions. Now I'm all for equality and the end of discrimination, but I found that stupid. It's something celebrated all around the world, why should we hide it? Just because others may not agree with the times we like to celebrate doesn't mean we have to excuse ourselves, and actually I think it doesn't offend most people of other faiths anyway.

Hooray for Christmas!!!