You're Grinch! And it's ok
You're the Grinch!
…And that’s ok.
by Stephen Hillman
It’s that time of the year again. As if you needed reminding. Yes the lights are up, the radio stations are playing non-stop Christmas music, the televisions are playing the classics and everything is holly and golly. Except it’s not, and it took some time to get to this point but you’ve realized just how much you dread this season.
Oh you didn’t mean to of course, who wants to be the scrooge of the bunch that spoils it for everyone else. Did you really picture yourself hating Christmas so much. Perhaps hate is too strong of a word but you know there will be a sigh of relief when all the chaos is done. Because that’s all the Christmas season is for many, chaos, anxiety, and long check out lines. The sad part? You see it’s coming a mile away every year. Starts around thanksgiving, fun with the family….yay. Then you realize that all of that was just a warm up for the real game season. And the only way to get ahead of the tinsel and the pine trees is to have started planning the year before * Which you didn’t, that wrapping paper stashed away doesn’t count). It’s a known cycle yet somehow you find yourself stressed out and stretched thin.
I’ve worked for the post office for years now (thankfully in maintenance) and everyone of my co-workers can see the long days on the horizon. Nothing much you can do but bear down and take the beat down. If the Christmas spirit is floating around somewhere than it must have lost your address because you can’t remember the last time you stopped all the planning and hustle and bustle to realize this is supposed to be the best time of the year, where we’re at our best.
So why are you the Grinch? How the “Grinch stole Christmas” is one of my mother’s favorite movies. It doesn’t even have to be Christmas for her put it on. So unfortunately I am very familiar with the film. At some point in my adolescence I started my many critics of the classic, ( just to be a punk). Such as what exactly is the Grinch? Why is he green? Why oh why does he not have pants on. I mean he went out of his way to make a Santa Claus outfit but when he got to the pants was he like “Nah I’m good”? Why did he make Max (most loyal dog there is) pull the sleigh down hill instead of riding the thing down the mountain with the Grinch? There are more but my biggest was why did the Grinch give up so quickly? I know what kind of weird kid thinks like that. I’m referring to the end or close to it, where even when the Grinch took all the presents the people still sang with joy. He sees this and realizes that “Christmas means a little bit more”. Input scene where his heart grow and he gains the strength of 10 Grinches plus 2. And shortly after gives all the gifts back to the residents of whoville. And to that I say what a sellout.
Alright perhaps that’s a little too cynical but a part of me still thinks he was too quick to quit. So how do you identify with the lovable green misfit? Well if we’re honest don’t we want him to succeed, at least in our lives. No you don’t want somebody to break in your house and deceive your two year old into letting him take the Christmas tree. You might however want someone to just end the holiday madness before it even begins. Which is really a sober idea if you let it breath. Once you realize all the things that you stress over; the lights, the decor, the presents, even the Christmas dinner; all the things we do to make this one day special above all the rest. What your left with is Christmas. You can try to amplify it or even skip it. In the end thousands of years ago a child was born and humanity gained it’s ultimate hope. Nothing you do can change that or take it away. So let your heart expand, bring on the gifts and for once actually enjoy this Christmas, madness and all. And know even if you don’t get it all done, know it’s already a special day so enjoy it…now next year…..?
