December 16, 2023
Wet and warm for December. Hard to believe St. Nick visits in eight days. That the Reindeer will land on the roof, rest, and bask in the glow of the multi-colored lights we strung so they can find the place. After all, there are a lot of houses on our street, and we are only an itty-bitty speck in a big old world. It’s important to stand out. Decorations are essential, but each home has a fingerprint that goes much deeper, and its identity is determined by all the action and energy that happens inside.
I believe we’ve been good enough this year. That Santa will stuff our stockings, give a few gifts, eat our sugar cookies, drink our 2% milk, and share the bag of baby carrots we leave for his hard-working, magical beasts. But who knows? When it comes right down to it, there are houses with brighter lights, decadent treats, and more meaningful fingerprints because they’ve put together much longer streaks of good-decision-making days.
So it goes, I guess. We can’t win ‘em all. We can only improve. And one thing I can say about our home is that even though our team is comprised of misfits, we are united and usually headed in the right direction. Looking out for others. Giving people the benefit of doubt. Believing in their good intent. Even if that means learning hard lessons in silence.
The holidays are no different than other days. At least, they shouldn’t be. Peace on Earth. Goodwill toward humans. Tossing glove-box change into red buckets. All of this should be everyday practice. Or maybe every other day. Once a week. A month. Whatever a person can muster when they aren’t locked away in their own little world. Fretting and frittering away at all the bullshit we create to muck up our lives when all we really have to do is take care of one another—and eat and drink and be merry.
Of course, there’s much more to it. Taking care involves thinking and patience, compromise, and sacrifice, and it is not meant for the faint of heart. You’ve either got the guts and love to land and live on the Island of Misfit Toys or you don’t. For those willing to do the work, to make better choices and follow through, you’ll start to see things, once again, like a little kid. Tucked in bed. Brimming with hope. Listening, even in the darkest, coldest night, for that sweet sound of rooftop sleigh bells.
~ KJ
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