Is the Christmas Spirit even a thing unless you've had a year of child-like joy like it's 1985 again? Well that's for those who grew up in the 1980's and enjoyed those years. There were still terrible problems back then of course, since the beginning of time that has been the case.
But I do remember thinking "Wow I am so lucky to be growing up in the 1980s. The racism was made to seem like mostly a thing of the 60's and earlier, and the only drama I remember the US being involved in was the Cold War with Russia.
I remember world new reports on place like West vs East Germany, Tiannamum Square, anything Russia and so on. I didn't know that the the previous generation protested Vietnam and other wars. Growing up during that time is why I call it the "We Are the World" generation. Oh yeah, speaking of which, We Are the World, boy you just knew the USA wanted the best and wanted to truly help starving children in the motherland.
So brainwashed! Anyway, life on a personal level, is challenging even without all the world's problems.
Trying to recapture those fairytale moments from childhood is not likely, but I remember trying to do so each year and trying to force the Christmas excitement that I had as a child.
All the Christmas commercials make us think that it's possible to recapture. Chile those commercials have been running since October...Christmas bells, lights, fireplaces, perfect-looking families, big smiles, expensive gifts...
Of course, despite the capitalism, greed and all that, there's still a component of extra family time, time off work, and good food that's really supposed to be the primary reason I look forward to any holidays. Can't let the capitalism take away those benefits of holidays.
So family time is where I try to keep my focus. But, though we spent Thanksgiving together, finally after a million years,lol, we'll be headed in different directions for Christmas. I'll be with my inlaws, which is still a gift. It's just still new and not from my childhood, lol.
Sweetly, on a sweet note, I remember being being elated, overjoyed for my daughter's first Christmas. I was so extremely excited. She was only 9 months so gifts didn't matter, but I was through the roof excited for my baby's 1st Christmas. (2011).
I'll never forget that level of excitement...in my mid30's, working a job I hated, and with terrible financial problems, career problems, lol, but what sticks with my soul is the beautiful feeling I felt to finally be a mom on Christmas. I decorated a table and called it a Christmas table (I need to find photos) to commemorate her 1st Christmas, plus the handprint ornament where your baby puts their hand in the clay and it make a print and becomes an ornament, which is sitting right here just a few feet away from me on our table top tree.
I think that's also the time I was finally able to buy gifts for all my nieces and nephew. I remember it being a day before Christmas Eve and I was driving around so many stores, running out of time and it was actually so very fun!!
Family time + giving people fun gifts seems to be the key for me to get in the Christmas Spirit.
As kids, our gists would be wrapped up for weeks or days and this raised our anticipation so much. We used to be dying to know what we got. I know it's still like that sometimes, but in my experience with the kids in my family, it's just a wrapped up gift, lol. As long as they have their primary tech, they're not dying that much with excitement.
Now when they actually go ahead and get something they really really wanted, then they would be excited.
And I mean, it has to be something they really really X 10, really wanted, lol. To reach that level of excitement where you're just like "Yay this can only happen on Christmas."
Our daughter will be getting a gamer laptop, but it's not wrapped up or anything so there's no "I can't wait until Christmas."
But, we'll try to make it as Christmasy of a gift as we can.
Next year I'm going to be on time in getting her some anime Christmas stockings, and she will be so elated, that that will put me in the Christmas spirit, just by her being elated over a $20 anime stocking and having to wait until Christmas to see what's in it.
I'd love to be able to get my nieces and nephew something that's top on their list, yeah let's be honest, that would put me in the Christmas Spirit.
Maybe soon...
For right now, let's just be glad we've had a miraculous healing breakthrough after a year filled with so many injustices against people who look like me, it definitely took a miracle to be doing as well as I'm doing.
😀🦋🦋
