Yes, "it's the most wonderful time of the year" and I almost lost hope in the world because of that today.
The traffic in Green Hills is awful. I can't afford any of the things I would like to get my parents for Christmas, though I know they'll understand. I've lost communication with a lot of my friends from high school, making Nashville seem dull. Finals took every ounce of optimism and joy (and health) out of me. And finally, if I hear one more person fret about the appropriate use of "Merry Christmas" rather than "Happy Holidays" I might explode.
In short, I've finally understood why adults seem so stressed out around the holiday season, but it doesn't have to be that way. I have two tips to kindness that could eliminate a lot of holiday stress.
1. Traffic: I know we can't completely eliminate the age old problem of congested roads at all hours of the day, however we can change the attitude about this traffic. Rather than sitting in the traffic thinking of how late we're about to be, thinking about what a jerk all the other drivers are for not letting us merge or for not using their turn signal, instead of all these things - smile while sitting in traffic. Put in your favorite CD, allow people to merge in front of you, smile at the car next to you if you accidentally make eye contact as I so often do. To see one person being kind in holiday traffic inspires others to do the same, and if we're all being kind to each other then this traffic is more of a gift rather than a curse. This traffic is an opportunity to spread kindness to the strangers in your community.
2. Use your words. If you celebrate Christmas, say Merry Christmas. If you celebrate Hanukkah, say Happy Hanukkah, if you want to include New Years in the greeting, say Happy Holidays. Don't worry about offending someone, and don't get offended if you receive the "wrong" holiday greeting. The fact that anyone is even giving a holiday greeting is better than them saying "I hope you experience extreme grief today, and that you step in seven puddles on your way." And if someone else gets offended because you cared enough to wish them a Happy Holiday, then they aren't really exercising the kindness of the season anyways, so smile, brush it off, and go on your way.
Happy Hanukkah (Because that starts today, and because I went to Jewish pre-school, so I feel authorized to say this.)
Merry Christmas (Because that's this Sunday, I'm sitting in front of my family's Christmas tree, and I can't wait to go to midnight mass with my Catholic family after a Christmas Eve feast with my Baptist family)
And Happy Holidays (Because after all this Christmas family time, I can't wait to celebrate New Years with friends, and because I think it is beautiful to celebrate all the holidays, Old Testament, and New.)
Shalom
