...about a grown-up christmas reflection...

Currently listening to: Grown-Up Christmas List - Kelly Clarkson

.christmasinred.
Main Atrium, Mall Ciputra, Dec 19 2008

I think of Christmas as more of a season than an occasion.

A season of happiness. Of giving thanks. Of sharing the joy we have with others. A season of being grateful. A season of loving, and being loved. A season of forgiving, and being forgiven.

I know some cynics view Christmas as another commercialized holiday season, one whose hype and festivity is amplified and exaggerated as such that people can be persuaded and lured into buying presents, decorations, cards, and other Christmas-related stuff which aren't necessarily important in the first place.

And yes, I do agree that sometimes things get out of control.
Christmas big sale here, Christmas special offers there. Lookie here, come to this shopping mall and you can experience (fake) snow, though the gigantic Christmas tree is no longer there. Visit that shopping arcade and you can get a chance to go into Santa's house and take pictures with the big, fat, red-costumed, white-bearded bloke. Shop at this department store and you can win lots 'n lots of prizes! And oh, don't forget that once-iconic, now-slowly-fading shopping mall in South Jakarta that boasts its pirate-themed Christmas decorations. The list never ends.

Yes, it's true. Sometimes people get so overwhelmed with the commercial side of the season that they forget just what Christmas is all about.

In essence, Christmas is NOT about decorations, or presents, or discounts and sales and special offers whatsoever. And it's not an outright religious occasion black and white as well, at least to me personally it's not. I'm never one to emphasize the importance of rituals and formality, 'cuz I just don't think that they're as important as what's below the surface. Rituals won't have any meaning, or significance, if they're practiced and done without any form of sincerity and understanding of Christmas's true values. Instead of going all hardcore with the rituals and ceremonies, why not just stay simple, and share the happiness and joy imprinted in your hearts with others in need? That would have so much more meaning and relevance to what Christmas actually is about.

Christmas should be joyful, festive, and colorful as it is. But aside from all the festivity, it should also be used as a time to love, share, and forgive. A time to be with our most loved ones. A time to be thankful of everything we've experienced this year. A time to be aware of, and grateful for, the fact that it was on this day that our Savior was born to the world and delivered salvation for us all.

Of course, Christmas should also be used as a time to reflect on what we've all done during the past year, good or bad, and to decide what we're gonna do next. What we've done well, and what we can do to perform even better in those fields. What we haven't done correctly, and what we can do to improve them next time.

To be honest, I personally think of Christmas as a chance to be perfectly happy, full-stop. No fine print. And I've got plenty of reasons to be happy about!

To state the awfully obvious, I'm home, with my family and loved ones, so that means I'm spending this year's festive season with them! I'm a grown-up now, so I'm able to understand the real meaning of Christmas underneath it all. And most importantly of all, Christmas is the only one season in which my childishness is approved and suitably justified! *laughs* So, yeah.

After all, Christmas is the very best time of the year, without a doubt. Frills and all.
And it only comes around every twelve months, so make sure to get the best out of the season while it's still here. Shall we? *winks*

Merry Christmas, guys. Sincerely. Have a good one. =)


****

...No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal our hearts...

And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end...

This is my grown-up Christmas list,
This is my only lifelong wish,
This is my grown-up Christmas list...