Bright Days, Dark Spirits

All around, there are seasonal songs and signs of merriment.  By 'signs' I mean imagery of what we are all supposed to be feeling and doing.  We drown in it from media with 24/7 classic carols, and TV specials of every imaginable ilk celebrating Christmas.  The shops have December sales, and decor and push at each of us what holiday conformity looks like.   The messaging is clear - get in the spiirt, let gifting to one another demonstrate your true selves, kind, caring and sentimental.  

But look for a moment at each other.  Look into other's eyes and souls and you don't see it. I don't anyway.  We still cut one another off in traffic and argue for that last parking spot. We're still rude and self-centered in all the normal ways.   We say Merry Christmas, but it's perfunctionary as a means to end encounters. When it's said, it means "We're done talking now".

Show me the selfless acts, the desire to help each other.  Keep your gifts, but illustrate through changed attitude that this is actually the time of year when we place our fellow man ahead of our own needs and wants.

I'm not mad at Christmas or whatever version of it you celebrate, I'm saddened that we let the idea be corrupted and don't seem to notice.   It's unfortunate but I think this is a sign of the times, and so let's skip the formalities next time and just text or tweet each other 'Merry Xmas'.  At least then we'll be authentic.