Once
again it made me very clear what a crazy, in many ways unhealthy ‘show’, most
people not only make from Christmas but even more how most people create a
great stress ball from November till New Year by themselves. All because
everybody else does do and they cannot be, or are afraid to be, ‘different’.
Unhealthy
first of all because they live opposite to nature. Nature shows December, in
the Western world, is the time to recharge. To connect with the core of life.
In Christianity for instance there is the so called period of Advent. Being
religious or not, it offers the opportunity to stop, to contemplate for a while
because (the original meaning of the word Advent) a notable person is arriving.
In relation to Christmas it has everything to do with new life.
So
nature and also Advent offers us from November till New Year NOT to stress up.
It’s the invitation to stop running and to connect with what life really is
about.
Unhealthy
in another way because in many cases December seems to be a deadline. In work,
in projects, financial/tax, etc.. And actually it’s not. It’s just the
opposite, the celebration and preparation of a new beginning.
Marketing
and advertisement induces us we need to give and/or receive presents otherwise
we cannot ‘celebrate’ the end of the year happiness show. Marketing and
advertising created the ‘fake’ Santa Claus and, for instance in my home country,
in addition also the ‘holy’ Sinterklaas as well. So even double presents in The
Netherlands.
Don’t
get me wrong, celebrating Christmas and Sinterklaas, certainly have their
charm. The way we do most of the time is to make them overwhelming shows, not
even realizing whatever their real backgrounds and meanings are. It’s all about
buying and materialism, good for the economy, making people only very temporary
happy. Several times even jealous or unhappy.
People
change in December. They show on social media even happier faces, families, cloths,
and more shining jewelry. All part of the show. Ever thought about the idea
after December there is a high rise of divorces?
Nice to
see this ‘A bad moms Christmas’ comedy to really face the December ‘race’ and
fake happiness shows.
The
place where I live is about 25 kilometers from the crowdie Thai city Chiang
Mai. Full of tourists. In our area we even have big Makro stores and yes… there
is something to earn in this Buddhist country as well in November and December.
Plastic Christmas trees and more. Everybody feels it does not belong here and
it are nearly only the Farang (foreigners) who buy this decorations. Not to create
a real December atmosphere in my idea with today again a tropical temperature
of about 32º C (90 F).
No
December stress for me anymore for a couple of years. And actually this has
nothing to do with December at all. It has to do with every month during the
year. Celebrating every day my way. And yes, Christmas in its original meaning
and the end of the year celebration are part of it as well in a very connected
way. No extra gifts, no extra shopping needed. Even not necessary because here
this coming 25th of December is just a regular Monday and all the
shops are open. For sure nobody is looking forward for snow ;). So what about a
Christmas feeling? All in the game ;).
Maybe
not good for the economy… enjoy a healthy and stress free end of the year
(whatever the world around you thinks of you). Take your time to recharge and
connect with what life is all about and maybe… face nature as a mirror to
(un)learn.
Frans Captijn
captijninsight@gmail.com
Frans Captijn
Host / Catalyst / Talenteer at Captijn Insight
Captijn Insight: “Catalyst in your process to new sustainable flow in life, love, family, business, career and work. Whether you are an individual, couple, team or organization.”
captijninsight@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment