Time to celebrate each other
Another Christmas has arrived. Another milestone in life’s calendar and perhaps another opportunity to contemplate, reflect and consider who we are, what we do and how we treat each other.
We’ve said it before – Christmas can mean so many different things to different people.
It can be a time of celebration, a time for families, a time for fun, festivities and good cheer, a time to recharge the batteries and a time to reflect on and-or embrace faith.
For others who might be in unfortunate circumstances, it can be a time of loneliness, a reminder of missed opportunities or time to reflect on loss. It can certainly cut both ways.
Some of us like to think about Christmas, after we’ve outgrown the magic it presents to us as children, as a time to celebrate diversity – when all the multitude of personalities, sensibilities, opinions and traditions can come together in a fascinating melting pot of humanity.
Christmas often provides rare insight into this diversity of individuals, which can poke its head up at the table during Christmas lunch, the family barbecue or annual backyard cricket match.
We’re all different and are constantly moulded by our day-to-day experiences.
When families come together for Christmas, often after spending time apart and having experienced different circumstances, the atmosphere can be comfortable and familiar or sometimes markedly different and foreign. Such is life.
A simple message for Christmas might be to use the occasion to try to be as good and magnanimous a person as you can be, regardless of circumstance.
Forgive the perceived minor failings of your friends and family members and try to embrace them for who they are.
If everyone went out of their way, for at least one day of the year, to treat each other how they would like others to treat them, imagine how good a Christmas we could all enjoy.
The occasion is about giving – something that is much more than a simple exchange of gifts.
From all the team at The Weekly Advertiser, we wish everyone a safe, happy and fulfilling Christmas and New Year.