random thoughts

i was having a conversation over email with my buddy spadoman today and many things occurred to me (he has a knack for getting me to think)- folks are very disheartened these days.  with good reason- but never in our history before has the future looked quite so bleak.  now, i know that there are some who would argue the first part of the 20th century would give us a run for our money- and that’s almost true.  we have a crucial difference- our planet’s ecosystem is in danger.  so- it’s the holiday season and we are all supposed to shop until we drop and run around like fools and be merry- and many of us don’t feel like it.  so don’t.  yep.  that’s what i said.  the world will not stop if you end gift exchanges and cookie bakes and whatnot.  this isn’t meant to be preachy or gloomy- but i have been doing much thinking about life in general and reconnecting with life.  we are overwhelmed by loss and life and as adults- we forget what it’s like to actually live and feel.  we run on autopilot because we try to do and be everything to everyone- all at the same time.  stop it.  think back to when you were a kid- playing in the snow or sun.  why did you do it?  it was fun surely- but didn’t you feel exhilarated after chasing your friend around the yard?  or breaking an icicle off and sucking the end of it?  snow birds know what i am talking about :)  there is much in the media about the ’shopocalypse’  and the impending economic crunch that’s coming and whatnot.  people are burned out and exhausted- and dread the holidays.  think about why we have them in the first place.  where did they come from?  our ancestors were no less busy than we but they purposefully set aside time to rejoice and celebrate and bond with their fellow man (and woman)- why?  and why don’t we?  the holiday season isn’t meant to drain energy and money- it is meant to be a time to set aside worries for a day or two and celebrate our friends and family.  it is meant to realign our perspectives on what we did as people the past year and look to what we will do in the future year.  we are the ones who try to make them perfect or over the top and whatnot.  i cannot remember many gifts from my childhood- or recently- but i do remember singing carols and decorating trees and playing cards with family around steaming mugs of cocoa.  my gift to my friends and family this year- is me.  my time.  time is our most precious commodity- shouldn’t we share it with the people who matter the most?  yes, the kids will look at you like you have 3 heads- but they will appreciate you more as they get older- and you will have the memories of time with them.  peace.