In Tune With True Holiday Spirit
Every year during the Christmas season, I, along with many I presume, ponder the "true meaning of Christmas". It seems we've become a nation so focused on gifts and possessions, we've lost sight of that true spirit of Christmas. I too fall victim to such a holiday mentality, but every year I aim to focus my holiday spirit and joy on gifts other than material possessions, and focus my efforts on giving rather than recieving. I find every year it's easier said than done. A young Philadelphia couple recently showed just what I believe is what the Christmas holiday is all about. "It played like a scene from a holiday movie", is the description by MSNBC about this past Saturday at Aramingo Diner in Philly (Mystery Couple Sparks Cascade of Giving).The young couple had enjoyed their weekend breakfast, and as paying the tab for their meal, they told the waitress they'd be picking up the tab for another random table of diners.
“They asked us not to say anything until they left, say, ‘Merry Christmas, that person picked up your check'," said a waitress Lynn Willard.
What was most remarkable about the simple gesture was that it continued for hours and hours that Saturday morning. The first couple started a chain reaction in the restaurant, where hours-worth of patrons picked up the tabs of neighboring tables. The gesture of the "mystery" couple and the rest of the restaurant-goers that day really touched me. A gesture so simple became indicitive of what I consider true holiday spirit-giving to others without recognition or anything in return. By giving twenty dollars to a neighboring table, the Philly couple influenced many others to take on that holiday spirit as well. This current event gave me hope that even in the midst of a material-good society, there are people amongst us still in tune with the true spirit of the holiday.
Comments
Mal, I really enjoyed
Mal,
I really enjoyed reading your post! I too am disapointed that our society has become so materialistic and that the focus of Christmas season has veered towards gifts and presents as opposed to being with family and being thankful for the simple things in life. Personally, Christmas is my favorite time of the year and my favorite part about the season is that my whole family is home and we all come together to enjoy each others company. It is the one time of the year when I know for sure that my aunt won't be traveling and that my sisters will be home to take a break from their hectic lives. I mean sure, who doesn't enjoy getting presents? When I wake up on Christmas morning, I look forward to opening all my gifts, but even more than that, I look forward to having good times with my family.
When I read about that couple from Philidelphia, it made me really happy to know that there are still people out there who remember the true meaning of Christmas. I think that is an incredibly generous thing, and the fact that they wanted it to remain unknown demonstrates the fact that they did it truly for the spirit of Christmas, and not for the praise of performing a good deed. This story brings back the affects that one nice gesture can do, seeing that it sparked a chain reaction of spontaneously picking up stranger's tabs.
Thanks for the post, I really enjoyed it!
Chels
Hi Malori, I really loved
Hi Malori,
I really loved your post, it demonstrated that nowadays, most people are more selfish than giving; however, there are still a few who have the heart to give to the community. When I was reading the article, I thought, "Aw." There was nothing more sweet than paying for another and have a whole chain going on.
One sentence you wrote that stands out for me is: "It seems we've become a nation so focused on gifts and possessions, we've lost sight of that true spirit of Christmas." I hate to say that this is what I am. I think that the only way people will get happy if I give them the materialistic things that they like, and also materialistic things are durable in a sense that it will last for a long time than a snack.
I want to spend my Christmas like the warm feeling this picture gives off.
Thanks for your writing! Happy Holidays!