Merry Christmas Fellow Passengers On Life's Journey

 In 2010, an excerpt from "A Christmas Carol" was used to send out my Christmas wish to all. To lurking readers. Other's who share thoughts.  To my fellow bloggers. Those who stand with me in the metaphorical trenches, year after year. And everyone else. Whoever you are? Wherever it is you may be?  I wish you all the best. A joyous day. Happy times. People to share the season with.  Some good food and of course, always, some good wine. My Christmas 2020 post will end again with that quote. 

First a bit of reflection:

 This year has been a very different year. That's for sure. The online censorship has gotten more robust. AND yet... we still stand

 The fear has been heightened to levels so extreme. I could hardly believe them possible. And yet.... still we stand. 

Standing tall. Standing true. Standing strong. In the face of what one could only describe as a deluge of lies & misrepresentation. The destructive heavy handedness of government doing the bidding of those who hold the reins of power. As we enter yet another lockdown. A lockdown that will result in a multitude of destroyed lives and liveloods. Lots has gone wrong this year. Personally, it's been a difficult year. Challenges. Sadness. Feelings of loss. And still much has been good as well. Through it all there has been- LOVE. In the spirit of the season I told my hubby how very much his love and support has been appreciated this past year. How glad I am to have him for 'my rock' Of course, he said I was silly. But he smiled, still. 

 I thought about the people that crossed my path yesterday. What had been done to them? What they had allowed to be done to them? The cross (angry) The fearful. The dictators. So many little dictators. "You're walking against the arrows""Your mask isn't on right"  Horrendous attitudes openly on display. Why were these people acting so awful? My conclusion was that they all felt so helpless they desperately needed each to be a tiny drill sergeant so they could have some power. However fleeting. However illusory. It was truly pathetic. I smiled. Chatted. Laughed. And wished everyone a Merry Christmas. Many thought I was mad, undoubtedly. That is not the case. My determination was to not let the fearful, the brainwashed, the deranged drag me down to their level. Ya know the one where they'd lost every bit of their humanity? They failed to realize that in each of us is a bit of the other.  I don't want to lose that understanding of mankind. 

So my wish for Christmas- Is that this memory, this realization is restored to each and everyone of us.

"But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round -- apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that -- as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!"

However you spend this time? Spend it well. Be kind. Say hello. Smile. Don't forget we are all fellow passengers on life's journey

Stay out of fear. Take back your power. And don't allow it to be taken, again. 

Pythagoras