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Hello again @rok-sivante

I know exactly what you're going through simply because, while I have no paper saying that I'm married or had a ceremony, I live with my "wife" for a long time now, and spent many Christmas together.

She also takes no shit, believe me, and I feel as you do. I don't find Christmas that special... I have a kind of lifestyle that allows me to stop and think about those I love, so I tend to appreciate every moment with my family and loved ones,

What happens is that most people only think about this on these special Holidays, but as I am always embracing the warmth of their presence all year round I don't see the big deal in Christmas any more.

Granted presents are nice, they aren't as nice as when I was a child and that was the HOLY GRAIL of new toys and stuff to play with.

Never forget that Christmas is for the Children... the magic of Christmas is mostly for the little ones and for those who don't stop to appreciate the family all year round.

As far as the presents are concerned, I hate picking presents. I like giving them and seeing people happy, but I have no good taste and can't seem to pick the right things.

Then again, I never ask for anything so I'm just a bit detached from the present concept maybe... or I'm just a man, as I know it's kind of a trend that man can't properly pick gifts.

Heck you should see my presents for my wife, they are not the best and I admit it, but she knows I suck at picking them.

My sporadic gifts through the year are the best, but these "forced" date-bound ones... meh, I am not into it.

Thanks for the wall of text though, read every bit of it.

Cheers! Upvoted.
Max

ha ha, I appreciate the great comment. good to know I'm not alone in these matters, and feel a sense of comfort having such reflected back, sure that it's a common experience for men and not just some isolated case.

Happy Holidays, mate! :-)

To you as well mate, see you around ;)

Christmas Cheers!

Currently having one of the worst Christmas here, I'm caught up with serious high fever, damn.

Don't be a scrooge. The costs are never worth what you'll "save."

haha. perhaps. Unless you are saving some crypto currencies......

lol. good point.

and I suppose actually, that's part where I was coming from. when you're thinking in terms of opportunity cost, a $100 gift isn't $100 - anticipating a market boom next year, that $100 starts looking like $1000, $10,000, and even more over time. and for something that's really not needed because some commercialized "holiday" says you're "supposed to..." well... 'nuff said. ha ha.

and people who fail to realize the opportunity cost of their choice will find it extremely hard to get "ahead." Christmas is a massive scam that has been perpetuated for such a long time. Okay, I guess I better hold back, I'm sounding really like a scrooge now.....

Merry Christmas..

No one comes perfect to this world and as you say "the learning cycles never stop".
Our job is to try to improve and overcome difficulties because that is what ultimately builds us. Great Post! Merry Christmas

It's a great Christmas event that you have presented to us in a very beautiful way that I read the story I liked a lot.

Well I won't say I understand the aspect of marriage but what I know is that sometimes we do forget the consequences of our words and actions thinking the receiving end would probably understand where we are coming from

Whether they needed the kitchen thing or not, they probably would have really appreciated the gesture. And that was the point I didn't get.

I can relate, as most men probably can, to the offensive to counter being 'a bit negative' pretty damn fiery!

I'm not big on Christmas, that left a long time ago, but I see people around me in the spirit of it all and that's just about enough to get me though. I do look forward to the new year though, changes seem to be easier to make.

Great piece!

Cheers!

ha ha, I appreciate the acknowledgement. :-)

I try to not be a scrooge. I admit it can be tough but life demands certain things from us as we live; ability to lend a helping hand to that brother in need. It doesn't necessarily have to be when we are millionaire as my aunty favorite saying which is, "If you can't help someone when you have 1,000 you won't be able to do that when you have 1,000,000. Merry Christmas to your family and you. It was a bright sunny day here. Cheers.

Excellent! I will subscribe to your blog!

At least, being able to process and think through what happened and likely why it happened is a huge step!

Sometimes the most important lessons we need to learn have the most emotionally-difficult build-ups. To get our attention. Otherwise, the next time would be louder still until you finally get it.

And sometimes we are our own worst critics.

Perhaps, if you now still feel apart from the family as they (and you) go through all the xmas rituals, step back and observe ... look for the underlying positives in what they do and say, understand the why. Perspective. Then you may be able to find a way to merge yourself back into the traditional routine, at least for the day. :)

Sometimes the most important lessons we need to learn have the most emotionally-difficult build-ups. To get our attention. Otherwise, the next time would be louder still until you finally get it.

YES. perfectly said.

🙏

As a Buddhist friend of mine says, "You can't ever get all your ducks lined up - reality doesn't work that way"!

the Buddhists are always full of wisdom... :-)