Holidays — The Search For Perfection
Holidays.
A time for family. Magic. Love. Joy.
But not everyone feels the joyful holiday spirit. For some, the holidays are depressing and feel like a giant letdown.
But why?
Yes, the holidays are over-commercialized. Yes, it seems that so many people have forgotten the true meaning of the holidays. But the true cause of the feeling of letdown is much more.
During the holidays, we expect perfection more than ever.
This time of the year we are inundated with images of holiday perfection. “How to Make the Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey”. “Absolutely Positively Perfect Thanksgiving Menu.” “How to Set the Perfect Thanksgiving Table”.
And we can’t forget the Thanksgiving Commercials. One grocery store advertisement states “This is the day that all roads lead back home. This is the day we put a little more on the table and a few more around it.” The commercials show beautiful homes, beautiful Thanksgiving tables filled with delicious food and family.
Christmas is full of even more images of perfection. “Find the Perfect Christmas Gift for Everyone on Your List”, “Christmas Tree Ideas to Give You Picture Perfect Holiday Inspiration”, “Chic Ways to Deck the Halls”, “Package Perfection Ideas”, “Build the Perfect Christmas Feast”.
And how about Christmas commercials? They show such lavish gift giving as one luxury cars, expensive diamonds, electronics, and any toy a child could ever desire.
Let’s not forget the “shoulds” or “have tos”. I should go to every party. I have to make everyone happy. I have to get along with everyone. I should be happy. I should be in a relationship so the holidays will be romantic.
However, for most of us, the holidays are never close to the commercial perfection that is fed to us by the media. Many families live paycheck to paycheck, some are unemployed right now during this pandemic. As a result, countless people don’t know how they will pay their household expenses let alone a Thanksgiving Dinner or Christmas decorations, gifts, and dinner.
“HOW do you define a word without concrete meaning? To each his own, the saying goes, so WHY push to attain an ideal state of being that no two random people will agree is WHERE you want to be? Faultless. Finished. Incomparable. People can never be these, and anyway, WHEN did creating a flawless facade become a more vital goal than learning to love the person WHO lives inside your skin? The outside belongs to others. Only you should decide for you — WHAT is perfect.” — Ellen Hopkins, Perfect
So, accept the fact that the holidays won’t resemble a Hallmark movie. It doesn’t matter if you can’t afford to buy a gift. Write a heartfelt letter. It will be cherished forever. It’s perfectly fine to be alone during the holidays. And it’s perfectly fine not to spend them with your family if that’s what you choose. Start a NEW holiday tradition this year.
No matter what, the new year will arrive. The sooner we all accept that tranquility has nothing to do with perfection and that the events of the first Christmas were imperfect, we will all have the true gift of Christmas–Peace on Earth.
