Speed Christmas

As reliable as Boxing Day sales ads at this time of year are the newspaper columns decrying some aspect of Christmas.

And yet, there are many wonderful things about Christmas. It is one of the few times of year that I actually socialize, write letters and emails without asking for anything. I feel good to have friends and to tell them that. I spend time with family members even when the travel effort involved feels tiresome at times.

It is also a time of year when I spend more time talking to other customers in stores. People are actually friendlier, at least before the crowds become oppressing. There is a good feeling.

And yet other things just don't feel right. I have been trying to express it for the last weeks as I see the crowds, the displays, go to at least a few stores, hear the music and feel the nervous energy. I have passed by street people and felt that I am too rushed to acknowledge them or much less stop and give them something. So what's wrong? The essence of my unease is that as everything we do in the modern world, we have to overdo it and change it into a great competition.

Expectations for a 'perfect' Christmas are so high that we pressure ourselves into a frenzy, even leading to a bizarre bragging ritual about how much last minute shopping or preparation we need to do. Why do we need more when less would be more satisfying for ourselves and everyone else?

So my resolution is to try to spend just a few more minutes talking to people. Stop the rush, move back into a human mode - and smile. There is still a lot of positive in the Christmas spirit, we just have to slow down and focus on it. Let's have a human Christmas rather than a perfect one.