Anyone Else Feel Like Christmas has Lost it's Sparkle?

[OK SITHLORD]

I see it two ways, and I'm going to speak in very general terms,

A) For the kids, it's the presents and time off school and food and being happy just being kids. But honestly, only for some kids.

B) For adults, it's spending some time with your family and friends and spouse and kids, if you have them. But honestly, only for some adults.

I think the holidays tend to "illuminate" the kind of childhood you had and, in some ways, how it's impacted you as an adult.

The state of the world and the economy are factors too, but you have to remember that society is set up for two things 1) Get us to be good consumers and B) Procreate so we can make more future consumers. It is not socially "ok" to be alone on Xmas. But nor on Thanksgiving or Valentine Day or New Years or any other time either. Society wants you integrated into a family unit so you will spend, spend, spend and spend. Spend to get a commitment, spend to have kids and raise them, spend to buy out your divorce.

Sometimes life is just really lonely. Except we aren't allowed to say it. Especially men. And usually people don't want to be alone because that's when they have to face themselves and deal with themselves. Having "people around" is like a big buzzing sound to distract you from yourself. Or do you think serial monogamists, workaholics and emotionally unavailable people just came out of nowhere?

People who came from solid childhoods with both parents and a stable situation tend to have a better chance at being able to be content alone. Not always an extremely better chance, but I would say the building blocks are probably more likely to be there.

But most people don't come from stable childhoods. Many come from broken homes and broken families. Raised, or not raised really, by people who don't know themselves and never did before they got together and had a kid. People who don't feel like they deserve anything good in life or have the right to be happy that have kids who learn to be the same way. These are the folks that look to have the gaps in their life filled by something , anything - more noise, more things flashing in front of them, more distractions. Or did you think the select people who drown themselves in collectibles, sometimes to borderline manic excess just came out of nowhere? Because dealing with yourself is hard and most people can't do it and mostly because dealing with yourself just really hurts. Because healing yourself and fundamentally changing how you see yourself in context to the world hurts.

And that's why life, not just Xmas, can lose it's "sparkle" sometimes.

As corny as it sounds, true happiness, really does, in fact, start on the inside.

Merry Xmas,

Gekko

WOW!!

 

[DarkArtist81]

Christmas hasn't lost a bit of it's magic for me. I'm a grown man now so getting presents isn't a big deal anymore, but giving them still feels as good as ever. There's the decorations, the music, the chilly weather, a big dinner with the family. My favorite time of the year.

Damn straight. I LOVE Christmas. I love decorating,the lights, the cold ass weather, the family get togethers, football on TV, lit up tree... I love wrapping the presents, watching the smiles on the faces of those you bought for. It's a great time of year.

 

[automaton]

I hate that I can't just go to the malls after Thanksgiving. Even going to Target is a pain not worth attempting unless it's at way off peak hours.

But I love me the on-line sale shopping. And here in West Hollywood there are some sexyily dressed female elves that dance somewhat erotically and do cirque du soel type stuff at the Beverly Center Mall in the evenings. That's good adult holiday cheer!

just beware of Hunky Santa...

 

[praxitas]

As corny as it sounds, true happiness, really does, in fact, start on the inside.

Also, Elvis Christmas music kick ass!

 

[RabagaZt]

After I began working for the mail-service(Posten) here in Norway December is all about work. 65-75 hours a week is not unusual so when its getting close to the 24th all I can think of is getting a good night sleep and relax. In that way christmas is not what it used to be(counting days and stuff like that), but I still enjoy getting gifts and eating wonderful food with my family

 

[Darth Snoopy]

I love this time of year!

Listening to Elvis Christmas music...

Decorating the tree...

Giving out presents...

Putting up the lights...

Spreading some Christmas cheer...

This time of the year just $&%@* rules! ​

 

[customizerwannabe]

I remember loving Christmas and counting down the days till it's arrival. I would even count down the days until school let out for break. Now, I don't even care that it's December. Christmas is nearly here and I just don't care. I don't like going to stores or buying people gifts and I really hate Christmas music.

It's not that I don't want to care- I have just grown so apathetic towards the holiday. I don't get gifts anymore, I don't buy a tree, I don't wish people Merry Christmas, I guess I just don't get it anymore.

Anyone else in the same boat?

Your heart has caught up with your internal clock. That's sad.

 

[pixletwin]

I also get most of my shopping done early so I don't have to contend with the frantic christmas crowd... So avoiding that scene prolly helps a lot in preserving the spirit of the season.

 

[ProgMatinee]

Maybe Christmas has lost something, I don't know, because less and less people actually relate it to CHRIST? Its just like anything else, the more material you make things the less it becomes about people and the less you're happy with it.

XBOX doesn't replace family and Santa Claus doesn't replace Jesus.

 

[turtlepower73]

it's exploited abd mass marketed. i don't feel the fun in it anymore..

 

[Crimsonbob]

Darth Snoopy man thats some funny S@*t

 

[DarkArtist81]

I also get most of my shopping done early so I don't have to contend with the frantic christmas crowd... So avoiding that scene prolly helps a lot in preserving the spirit of the season.

Same here... I do that primarily for that reason. And it helps.. a LOT.

Maybe Christmas has lost something, I don't know, because less and less people actually relate it to CHRIST? Its just like anything else, the more material you make things the less it becomes about people and the less you're happy with it.

XBOX doesn't replace family and Santa Claus doesn't replace Jesus.

Who's this "Christ" character you speak of? One of Santa's Elves?

 

[occulum]

Who's this "Christ" character you speak of? One of Santa's Elves?

Jesus Christ is a Moria Orc!!??

 

[Bodie The Cursed]

Have a few kids and Christmas will regain its sparkle..

 

[The Ween]

I love Christmas, it just doesn't love me! For the last 5 or 6 years I've always had something ^^^^^ty happen to me over Christmas. I get the flu, the weather is bad so my plans get cancelled, that "time of the month" hits just right and BAD, or whatever. Always something. Right now I have a bump on the white of my eye, you can't see it, but I sure can feel it! I have to use steriod drops and I can't wear my contacts. I'm looking very Sarah Palinish right at the moment.

 

[automaton]

Maybe Christmas has lost something, I don't know, because less and less people actually relate it to CHRIST? Its just like anything else, the more material you make things the less it becomes about people and the less you're happy with it.

XBOX doesn't replace family and Santa Claus doesn't replace Jesus.

Santa is a metaphor... just like most fairy tales... "he" "she" is there if one is open...

 

[ProgMatinee]

too much information Ween.

 

[automaton]

Who's this "Christ" character you speak of? One of Santa's Elves?


bassist in Nirvana?

 

[ProgMatinee]

Santa is a metaphor... just like most fairy tales... "he" "she" is there if one is open...

Santa is a metaphor...true. He's a meaphor to put your company into the black and for our kids to make up unreasonable expectations of gifts based on what the Jones boys are getting.

 

[The Ween]

too much information Ween.