LIVING LIFE : A Splendid Holiday

Christmas season is supposed to be the best time of the year. But it is often not to many people who are even too afraid to admit that when everybody is smiling, they are ailing inside. Christmas is traditionally a time for happiness, festivity, reunions, and a time for relaxation. Even though it is not a distinctly African ceremony, Christmas is fast catching up away from the obvious religious connotations. First, Christmas is when everyone who can afford to is expected to loosen their purse strings a little. Parents are expected to treat their children to new clothes and a festive season. Families expect everyone to spend precious time with each other and catch up on each other’s lives for the rest of the year. Christmas is a time to be free from the stresses of day to day life, to spoil oneself a little, take one more drink, soda or beer, than you usually do, although the doctor says that too much of the latter is not good for your health. They forget to tell you that too much of the former is also not good for your health, too much sugar, diabetes et cetera et cetera. Meaning you are better off with freshly made fruit juice or the good old glass of water. Enough of the biology lessons. This Christmas, in order to avoid Christmas blues, you need to be good with your sociology. Festive season is a people time. Humans are social in nature and perhaps if you have been feuding with a family member, spouse, a workmate or a friend, this might just be the time to patch up those differences. You need to be outgoing. Couples cannot have a better time other than their honeymoon to have quality uninterrupted family time, with or without the children. For singles, instead of brooding as others select the most romantic or the most expensive gift for their loved ones, this is the time to open your eyes a little wider. Christmas is also a nice time for cupid. Instead of locking yourself away in fear of exposing your loneliness, get out and smell the air. Be more than just willing to assist the distressed damsel at the supermarket who just can’t seem to find their favourite spray. Maybe they want you to find it for them. And to the guy sitted in the corner hugging a cold glass of beer on a Friday evening, supposedly absorbed deeply into thoughts, it would not be a first if you flirted a little as long as you know your boundaries. Find time to bond with old relatives. Elder people are surely full of wisdom and have a better sense of appreciating the good things in life. They give you a different and better life perspective than the usual urban everyday, money-minded put-food-on-the-table-or-else-you-are-a-failure mindset. Finally, avoid excesses. Christmas time marks the peak in motor accidents and unfortunate bar altercations. As much as we are thinking merry, some people are thinking theft, and other illegal ways of obtaining money. So, please, avoid unnecessary confrontations and take advantage of free time to bond with family and genuine friends. Otherwise, I wish you a splendid holiday. kelviod@yahoo.com