A Holiday Message

Written by me, five years ago...

Greetings Friends!

I want to start by saying that this email is being written by me, Hope Kathleen, and it is NOT a forward and I would prefer if it didn't turn in to one. I have to warn you that this will be a lengthy read so you might want to save it for when you have a few minutes. Last year I had an experience or maybe did an experiment, not exactly sure what to call it, but I wanted to share it with friends.

Instead of making a New Year's resolution last year I decided that I would make a holiday resolution. My holiday resolution was to go through the holiday season being genuinely friendly to people. Genuinely friendly meant I wouldn't be sickeningly cheerful or phony in any way but I would try to maintain a friendly attitude in the midst of the holiday hustle and bustle. I know I will not remember all of the specific instances that the genuine friendliness came into play but I will share the ones I do remember.

I think one of the things I figured out fast was that it was a lot harder to maintain a friendly attitude and it would have been a lot easier to get drawn into the crankiness and irritability that seemed to be all around. That was probably the most difficult part for me, making a conscious effort not to get drawn into a downward spiral. I also came to the amazing realization that the better my attitude was the more open I was to seeing good things going on around me.

I remember one day a few weeks before Christmas I was talking with a friend at the grocery store (names and identities have been changed to protect the innocent ;-). Also in the store that day was the neighbors of my friend with whom there had been a long standing disagreement. To my surprise my friend said that she thought it had gone on long enough and took the first step by going over and initiating a conversation with one of the neighbors. The conversation went well and although I don't think they have become the best of friends it was at least a step in the right the direction. (If the "friend" I am referring to recognizes this story I just want to say I was so proud of you that day! Bravo to you for being the better person!!)

My own grocery store experience happened one day while I was waiting in line at the deli counter. There was a woman with her young son also waiting and when it was their turn the woman got the basket off the counter (where you discard your tickets after your number is called) and let her son put the ticket in the basket which he enjoyed very much. So after my number was called I got the basket down, handing the little boy my ticket and let him put it in the basket. If you could have only seen how excited he was. He then went on to tell all about the stuff in the carriage including a birthday cake for his brother or sister. Something so simple seemed to make his day and in effect it made my day that I could be a part of it.

On another occasion I was in a local department store and there was this man with his arms overflowing with holiday purchases. I thought I could sense his crankiness just radiating off from him. I was seeing this as an opportunity to apply some genuine friendliness and while I stood off to the side trying to think of way to defuse the situation another shopper came by and offered to get the man a shopping cart. To my surprise the man I assumed to be cranky replied with a smile and a laugh that it would make his life too easy if he actually got a cart and we all got a laugh out of that.

I know there were other specific instances but in the long run specifics are not what's important, it's the feelings I got from the instances that I carry with me. It could be something as simple as holding the door open for the person behind me at the post office even if it meant it was another person I'd have to stand in line behind. I'm no saint and I'm not trying to sound mushy or preachy. I was just feeling today like with the obvious division in this country after the recent election that now more than ever it is important to remember that we are all human beings and when given the opportunity the human spirit can prevail.

I will be making my holiday resolution again this year. And by the way I found that it was a resolution I could carry with me throughout the year. I'm not asking anyone to make the same resolution or a similar one. I just hope that when you're standing in a mile long line waiting to make your purchase, feeling tired, stressed and annoyed, that you'll remember that the other people in line are probably in the same boat as you including the clerk running the register. And even if the other people are exuding crankiness you can make a choice not to get caught up in it too.

Often I listen to a Texas country music station (99.5 The Wolf) on the internet. Each day at the end of the morning show one of the dj's always says something that I really like...look out for one another, take care of each other, we're all family.

Wishing you all at least a few moments here and there to enjoy the true spirit of the holiday season.
Love,
Hope