Okay all you holiday-haters out there, we warned you this was coming. Prepare to have all your holiday dreads turned upside down with a spin so positive you’ll be running through the streets George Bailey style.
Yesterday, we learned the unsettling fact that there are people out there who dread being nice to others, among other things, especially around the holidays (in case you missed yesterday’s post: …Be Naughty).
Well, that does not sit well with us here at 2WC. Being kind is at the heart of just about all of our crusades, and actively disliking it just seems wrong.
Today, how about we work towards alleviating some of those other apprehensions in 2WC style:
- Crowds and long lines (Stephanie): It’s called crowd weaving. It’s an art form. It’s a way of life. It also does not condone cutting in line, running over small children, or tripping the slow ones so that you can get to the escalator half a second sooner (just to be clear).
- Gaining weight (Zer): Is it really fair to pin this one on the holidays? Last I checked Santa wasn’t force-feeding cookies to unsuspecting individuals at holiday parties and family gatherings (in fact, he’s taken a couple off your plate). Maybe, you’ll enjoy the season a bit more if you learn to focus on the flavors rather than the quantity.
- Getting into debt (Stephanie) : I know the temptation to spend is greater this time of year. Whether it’s the spirit of giving, a shopping compulsion, or an obsessive need to turn your home into Santa Land, it’s all about control. Just ask yourself, “Do I really need three inflatable Santa’s?”
- Gift shopping (Zer): I know it can be overwhelming when you have a list a mile long, including everyone from the mail man to your kids’ teachers, dance instructor, piano teacher and so on. But I promise, you can make it through this. Just remember what all the purchases, hours spent waiting in line and trying to find a parking spot actually represent. They’re a small way of saying, “Thank you.” Or in some cases, “I happened to get your name in the office Secret Santa gift exchange.”
- Traveling (Stephanie): It’s family bonding at it’s most spatially confined. Enjoy it for what it is—an adventure and an experiment in mob mentality. Happy trails. Think happy thoughts.
- Seeing certain relatives (Zer): We all have them (or so I’ve heard from other families), you just have to grin and bear it. Just remember to focus on the pretty lights, music and overall festive atmosphere. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, well, you’re probably the “certain” relative.
- Seasonal music (Stephanie): Do you dread happiness too?
- Disappointing gifts (Zer): It’s not the gift, but the thought that counts, right? I’m going to assume that this is referring to the gifts given and not received. If that’s not the case, I’d like to redirect your attention to the last sentence in number six. Yes, that’s definitely you.
- Having to attend holiday parties or events (Stephanie): Boo fricken hoo. Do you have to go be merry and bright, and enjoy the holiday spirit, which is probably illuminated by twinkling lights? How difficult your life must be. You’re just going to have to take a candy cane cocktail or two for the team on this one.
- Holiday tipping (Zer): It’s the right thing to do. Focus on the warm and fuzzy feeling you get, knowing that you made some minimum wage employee’s holiday just a little bit brighter.
Hopefully, we touched on something that will help any cynics out there learn to enjoy the holidays. Or, at the very least, allow the rest of us to enjoy the season and our holiday music.
Now get to it, that list isn’t going to take care of itself.
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…bi-daily smile…
