They say Christmas is the time of giving, a time when "the spirit of giving without a thought of getting" takes hold of our surroundings.
Now, I don't want to sound like a negative Nancy, but nowadays it seems that the joy and effort of giving is only limited to ourselves and our families, and even then sometimes the effort doesn't seem to be enough.
When some are invited to spend the season of Christmas together, most guests usually don't show up; whether it be family, relatives, friends or acquaintances, very few show the enthusiasm and interest of being together and celebrating our fellowship.
Who or what gets the blame here? "Modern" Society? Technology and social media slowly stripping us off and away from our very flawed, yet, humane ways of life and living? Is it the busy work schedule, the one that barely allows us to spend and invest time in ourselves? So when we do end up getting some free time, we choose to use it for some rest, deciding to invest it in our very solitary hobbies.
What's the point of having an extravagant setup and a house full of decoration for Christmas, when the people who we do it for aren't present? Those who do show up, usually lack the patience to stay behind for a conversation, some are on vacation physically, but sadly, their minds are busy worrying about the pressures of their work life and family duties.
So, do we really end up getting or making the time for ourselves and our loved ones during the holiday season?
I remember a time...
When we didn't have access to such fancy events and decorations; our house was small, a smaller Christmas tree in the corner, the lights were dim, number of accessories and decorations on the tree were barely visible.
Yet, we did really enjoy each other's company back then, we were living in the moment. We made the effort to show up and stay, share a warm blanket or two, enjoy hot coffee and hot chocolate, engage in some harmless banter and gossip, talk about our past Christmas experiences or any moment which included us, celebrating our togetherness.
Alas, gone are those days it seems, a thing of the of the past, captured and stored in our memories, maybe behind a frame or two, if lucky.
A part of me wanted to skip the expensive and flashy part of Christmas this year, I'm tired of trying and pretending, but the other part of me does not want to budge, it wants me to give it another go. So I just had to oblige, for the sake of my poor heart, but I still managed to get my own way with it, because I had something different planned this time around, an extra bit of effort.
Along with all the usual family and friends, I decided to invite a few extra guests this time. I started with the some of the members from the local charity, they were absolutely delighted to have received the first invitation. I invited our trusty ole housekeeper and chauffer along with their families. I also decided to invite some of our most trusted and hardworking employees from the company as well. The last invitation went to the Smith's, they own the local grocery store, and they were always there for us, from our early days of struggle to now, in our journey starting from rags to riches.
I figured, if we're going to spend big for Christmas, then we better plan big too, with as many guests, acquaintances and neighbors as possible celebrating under one roof. A house filled with the people who made a difference, contributed to our well being and growth; it's my own effort towards trying my best to give back to them, in a warm and "Christmassy" manner.
*What are we as a society without each other? Since I am now capable, I am blessed with the power to spread happiness and to promote our togetherness, why not try my best to actually make a difference?
What good is a well-lit and decorated house, if at the end of the day it remains empty?*
Fast forward to Christmas day
As the clock hits 7PM, the guests start to walk in, and by 8PM it already seemed like a full house. It really felt as if my mission was successful.
I also ended up questioning myself and previous attempts for Christmas; what really was lacking in the previous occasions? For which some of these people never really seemed interested to participate. Was my energy not welcoming enough? The effort not up to par? Is it because of my direct intention now the main reason for this success? Is it the "broad" effort I had put behind this little event to unite everyone under one building? I really hope so.
It was bright smiles all around, a warm and welcoming energy had suddenly engulfed us and our home, a true example of what Christmas really should feel and look like. Sweets of different kinds served hot for mostly the young'uns, a bar for both adult and children haha, hot chocolate for the kids of course, and the adults had the choice of going with coffee or any type of drink they prefer.
We also tried our best to include every favorite dish from the Christmas menu for our dinner. So many people had showed up, even our big ole dinner table wasn't enough for everyone to be seated haha. Thus, some of us had to take our dinner to the living room.
At the end of the night, as a token of appreciation, I went the extra mile to pack gifts for everyone who had come. A customized gift basket packed with all the premium coffee products from our very own company. It is winter after all, and what can really be better than some hot coffee during this time of the year?
