The sun sets on another day…
Another cloudy day, full of snow and excitement. Each day brings a bit of fun and fantastic moments, even when the sun is shining high above.
I went down a rabbit hole again. We obviously know that Charles Dickens wrote the immortal story A Christmas Carol, but did you know how many different movies there were that are based on that story? When I started down this path, I thought there were about 8. I changed my mind and counted about 13 than 20 that I had seen. All of them had subtle differences and of course I had to include the Muppet Christmas Carol and Mickey mouse’s Christmas Carol and Scrooged and a couple of others that were kind of on the edge. Still, I wasn’t sure, so I started researching.
I was very surprised that there are over 100 adaptations of A Christmas Carol and all of them have some flair and some excitement including one of the 1st movies ever made which was a adaptation of that self same story.
Why does that matter? What is that simple magic sauce that helps us become engaged with this rather complicated story. I am accurate, it is a complicated story, and it has a variety of sub stories even if you’re not paying attention. In the end the lesson is simple, or is it?
I have thought for years that the lesson is to live each day with Christmas in your heart. Past present and future become one and then a quantum realm there is no difference because they exist simultaneously. Perhaps that’s a story that hasn’t been done yet but a quantum Christmas would be cool as all get out. The reality is that the story is about finding a purpose in life and realizing that life is finite. We all have to live each day as though it is our last and in doing so embrace every moment and treat it like it was Christmas.
This year has been a little more interesting. People seem on edge, anger seems easy, and I find myself frustrated with the lack of depth and the lack of realization that there is no tomorrow and that in a moment everything can change. I sometimes consider standing behind people in the giant cloak pointing at the gravestone in front and hoping that they realize that living in the depth of anger is not the way to live. I consider ignorance and want, and I listen well for ignorance will destroy society and all that it is but still I try to keep the spirit of Christmas in my heart every moment.
I was in a store being nice to everyone as usual and a woman with a scorn on her face walked by me and said “what made you so happy?”
I didn’t think she expected an answer but I did and simply said, “I’m happy because I’m alive and I am alive because I’m happy.”
The woman chuffed like a tiger and walked away. Actually she wasn’t as cute as a tiger, when they chuff it is pretty cool, but she did walk away in a huff not sure of what to say and hopefully considering what I said. Is it so wrong to embrace the happy and tried to come out above all of the pieces that tried to take happiness away?
I don’t think so. There have been difficult times. Sometimes in the morning the world crashes down but I smash like the Hulk would and pull myself out of it. Sometimes it’s hard to see the forest through the trees, but I’m good with an axe and I spend time trying to spread the little bit of happiness that I can. In the end it will be better and, it is.
Yesterday I was buying food at a fast food restaurant, the person behind the counter was having a rough time and the customer in front of me was not being very holly or jolly, over the negativity that was being spewed I looked forward and said, “take your time, you’ve got this” and when I got to the counter I told them, “you are awesome, don’t let anybody tell you different”. They looked at me and said simply that I had made their day. Maybe that’s all I needed but it made my day better too.
So as the sun sets on another day, maybe it’s time for us to spread a little happiness. Maybe it’s time for us to live in the past present and future and hold Christmas in the spirit of Christmas in high regard. Maybe it’s time to set aside the happy holidays and realize that Christmas meant more than presents. Maybe it’s time to make time to help others find the happiness that we can feel inside. Find the happiness that you can and spread it with people each day, no matter what.
Sleep sweet, love life, and that’s a lot of Christmas Carols…