Hap Happiest

Andy Williams says it’s the hap happiest time of the year. Paul McCartney is simply having a wonderful Christmas time. Burl Ives tells us to have a holly jolly Christmas. Yet so many of my clients are not feeling the feels of this holiday season. I see an uptick of clients mentioning the feelings of sadness and the overwhelmingness of it all. I admit I sometimes feel that way as well. The expectations set by Andy and Paul and Burl and countless others are difficult, if not impossible, to meet.

Since I’ve turned seventy, I’ve noticed a big change in myself. That change has to do with simplicity. That correlates with just how complicated life has become. Even Christmas. Many have bemoaned that the true meaning of Christmas has been lost in all the hubbub, the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Christmas has instead become a juggernaut of commercialism. I am not even a Christian, Buddhist here, and I have been pulled into this powerful storm. As I write this, I can see my little Christmas tree, my stockings hung from the windowsill with care, and my Christmas gift lists, mostly completed.

I long for the time when Christmas wasn’t as commercialized. Sure, there was gift giving, but not like today. We didn’t need Elf on the Shelf to make the leadup to Christmas exciting. It was the knowledge that in just a few days, Santa would be on our rooftop. That was enough. This is not a political blog, but the current state of our holiday season is a reminder of one of the negatives of capitalism: How can I make money off of the birth of Jesus?

I worry that in my older age I am becoming a curmudgeon! This post and the last post have been a little negative. I guess it just matching recent moods. I promise that my next blogpost will bring some positivity back. Just like Justin Timberlake brought sexy back!

I’ll end with one more Christmas thought. Here is a sentence I never thought I would write: I agree with Mariah Carey. Yes, she and I are kindred spirits in the quest for a simpler holiday. She doesn’t want a lot for Christmas, she only wants you.