On Earning Christmas

Kids love Christmas.

Every kid.

Everywhere.

Loves Christmas.

Okay, obviously there are a few exceptions to every rule, even this one. But for the most part, they love it.

Far more, it seems, than adults love it.

Which, at first glance, seems a little bit strange. Aren’t all adults just big kids? At what age and for what reason did they stop loving something as innocent and euphoric as Christmas?

I’m sure many people have their reasons; financial stress, hectic work schedule, winter driving, strained relationships with relatives, complete and utter lack of creativity and jollification.. whatever the reasons are, I’m sure they’re there.

I’ve never been able to relate to anything less.

Now, I’m not saying there aren’t things that stress me out around the holidays, but I’ve never felt like any of those stressors were enough to override everything that a good holiday season can do for me.

To be clear, when I say ‘Christmas’ I’m not necessarily referring to December 25th. The Day itself, in fact, is often quite placid, and underwhelming. I’m referring to everything it brings.

The music, the food, the lights. The blissful feeling that you and everyone you know are on a holiday together, at the same time, in the same place. Those are thing things that make the holiday season what it is. And those are the things, that provide me with such a strong sense of self and outward satisfaction that I feel like I need to earn them.

‘Earning Christmas’ is probably not a concept most people are familiar with. And I can understand why. Because I made it up. But after rationalizing the concept of it a couple of years ago, its something I can’t help but live by.

To be honest, the idea of ‘earning Christmas’ probably stems from being a kid. We are taught growing up that behaving well, being a kind and good person and giving back, will land us on the perennial ‘nice list’ and ultimately provide us with a reward at the end of the year.

Now the concept of a naughty/nice list often disappears when the illusion of the Man in the Red Suit does. Who are we trying to impress, if not Santa?

But, it doesn’t have to be that way. The idea of working towards a gigantic reward at the end of a long year seemingly works for a child. It gets them excited, hopeful, gives them something to feel proud about and ultimately is a great way to break routine for something fun, unique and different. Why can’t it be like that for you and I?

I know New Years Resolutions are easy to make, and even easier to break. But, if you were to base your yearly (and shorter term) goals toward a giant reward you hope to get at the end of the year, those resolutions might be a little bit easier to stick to.

Now, I don’t want this to get too off the rails. If you don’t stick to your goals and resolutions, don’t accomplish what you wanted to, and aren’t on your ‘best behaviour’ will Christmas still come?

Of course it will.

Its a cyclical part of the calendar, the sun will rise and set 365 times, and Christmas will arrive year after year, regardless of your actions and motives.

But when the holiday season does rear its head at the beginning of December each year, and you HAVE accomplished all, or much, of what you set out to at the beginning of the year. The feeling of giving yourself to something completely can be euphoric.

Every commercial you see on TV, hear on the radio, every store you go into, every conversation you have, every movie you see, or song you hear, during that specific time of year revolves around it, and has lent itself to the holiday season.

Now, when I talk about ‘giving yourself to it’ what I’m referring to is allowing yourself to inconsequentially enjoy it. Without regret, without stress, without stewing over mistakes, or poor decisions. Being proud of yourself, living in the moment, enjoying every song, every snowflake, every sugar cookie, and every cup of rum and eggnog.

From someone who has been relatively successful in achieving goals and sticking to New Years resolutions for the past few years, it’s so much easier to immerse yourself in a holiday and not worry a fig about what you’re eating, drinking, or how much work you get done.

If you can be honest with yourself and put in 11 months of true true grind and work, without expectation or agenda, you may find yourself on your own ‘nice list’ and nothing feels better than enjoying a long holiday. Especially one you hardly need to leave your house for!

I’ve always felt like I’ve had a two-way relationship with Christmas, and everything that comes with it. Its something that feels like its always ‘given’ to me, and I am forever working to ‘give’ back to it.

That cycle, will be endless, the harder I work each year, the more I enjoy the holiday season, and the more I enjoy the holiday season, the harder I will want to work the following year, so I can subsequently have an even better Christmas the following year.

This Christmas season isn’t half over yet. I’ve, as always, loved every second of it, enjoying chocolates and holiday drinks every day, not worrying about sleep, or work, or diet.

But a small part of me, is already looking forward to getting back to work, looking forward to the absolute grind that 2021 is going to be. Think about that for a second. Its December 22nd today, and I already can’t wait to earn NEXT Christmas.

It’s truly one of the most unique, positive and productive relationships I have, and its not with a person, its not with my job, but its with an idea. A concept, A holiday. It gives to me, I do my best to give back to it. It’s a two-way relationship.

A two-way relationship, that I feel I will always be indebted to, and always be working to pay back.

In short, I’m a kid. And, as we know, kids love Christmas.