In a blink of an eye, the holiday season captures the imagination of little hearts longing to unwrap foiled packages and celebrating Christmas. Today, the holiday season is in full swing. Shopping mall parking lots, lined with overgrown weeds in between asphalt cracks, are filling up with eager shoppers searching for that perfect gift The quest to buy that wonderful gift for someone special is uplifting the human spirit all about my mom.
If such a joyful scenario ever played out in reality in America's heartland, our present economic woes would be a thing of the past. Doctors, Physiologist, Psychiatrist, Therapist, and Social Workers would have to scramble for patients. Unfortunately, the yuletide season advertising machine creates unbelievable Christmas Days to remember. Christmas songs ring out from blasting speakers throughout malls and remakes of yesterdays holiday classics air on the Hallmark Channel. It's a time of harvesting funds from rainy day savings accounts and maxing credit cards beyond their limits. If you are like most Americans, the advertising media molds Christmas into a Grinch that eventually steals the human spirit and replaces it with greed and torment. All across America, news reports are springing up everywhere about plasma t.v. smashing misfits that are engulfing a neurotic band of Christmas Shoppers who can't take the holiday ballads and advertisements anymore.
In some households, children are asking, "Daddy...Why is Mom Crying?" Dad with sunken eyes responds, "I wish I knew son"
Thousands of Christmas shoppers throughout the world are suffering from "Holiday Depression"
The holiday season for most people is a fun time of the year filled with parties, celebrations, and social gatherings with family and friends. But for many people, it is a time filled with sadness, self-reflection, loneliness, and anxiety. The holiday season often presents itself to be more then many of us can afford or endure. Holiday depression is the leading cause of yuletide suicides. People spend so much time in trying to out do one another, they often neglect their physical and mental health. Shoppers get so caught up in the glitz and pizazz of the holidays, people take to much for granite and forget their limitations. People fail to unwind and let go of the holiday pressures. During the yuletide, overwhelming anxiety levels soar, push comes to shove, and domestic violence occurrences skyrocket.
The million-dollar question comes to mind, is there a way out of this madness? Surprisingly, the answer is yes!
An old friend told me a long time ago that yuletide happiness is often misconstrue for real happiness. Depressed people hide behind holiday blues and put up facades to fit into holiday social events. No one wants to be the one who spoils the party. But after the tree trimming extravaganza has passed and the egg nog bowl is empty, reality sets in and tears override smiling faces. The regrettable letdown engulfs the weak and the chestnuts roasting on an open fire begin to burn from neglect. Holiday depression robs our souls of Christmas spirit. It upsets families, dampens desires to com minute, and share in yuletide festivities.
As I sat at my desk and prepared this article, I paused and reflected back on some childhood memories. I thought about a better time when Christmas was more then just receiving the biggest new fad. I remember at 12 years old, going door to door and selling handmade domestic jewelry made by the handicapped Indians in the Midwest. I didn't make allot of money but the trill of giving something back to less fortunate people was priceless. I realized at 12 years old what Christmas was all about. The reason for the season isn't trying to outdo one another but sharing and giving to the disadvantaged. Christmas was about celebrating the birth of a Savior who's Christmas stocking on Christmas morning was empty because parents forgot to fill it.
Simplicity. The unwrapped key that unlocks the door to a world of peace and tranquility. A world where people take the time to share, love, and forgive one another and live simple lives. People willing to go without so others less fortunate could have something good. The best surefire way to cure holiday blues is so simple--lending a helping hand to someone in need.
If all of us decided to take the "me" out of the holiday season and replaced it with "Let's Help Others" concept, you would begin to see Christmas miracles in action. Showers of blessings would replace greed and sadness would be curtailed by God's mighty works. If we seen the holidays as a time of remembrance instead of a toppling contest to out do one another at the checkout counter, how happier people would be. There is a destiny for all of us to discover and accept. We all must be willing to replace animosity with love, and anger with forgiveness. What we send into the lives of others comes back into our own as a witness to enlighten us.