Happy Holidays (ahh-oo-oo)

Please excuse the interpretive "ahh-oo-oo" portion of my title. As it turns out, the lyrics provided online do not add in the background singers. Sorry, background singers. We still appreciate you.

The delightful holiday season is upon us, but for me it hasn't clicked quite yet. The only way it has made sense thus far:

1. It's freakishly cold out. Yes, I am aware we live in Minnesota. Yes, I know it is December. No, I am still not used to be this cold.
2. I have an internal need for snow. There's this weird craving in my body - I know that sounds disgusting/creepy/anything but normal - and I really want snow. Last year we didn't have a white Christmas. You could say I was upset. 
3. I'm planning out what homework I can put off until break. Not a good choice, bad planning, procrastination is bad...believe me, I'm aware. I'm creating to-do lists for break, and so far all I've really put down is a) sleep, b) change the setup of this blog so it's more me, and c) clean my room. A promising list.
4. Most importantly, our Christmas tree (and lights!) are up. It's sitting in the kitchen - yay for not-finished house renovations - and I make sure it's on every single time I walk by. 

So I'm decently aware that it's the holiday season. Sure, we haven't made cookies yet, gone shopping for Christmas presents, or decided to listen to Christmas music 24/7, but that will happen.

But I'm not sure we'll remember how grateful we should be.

I love seeing the Red Kettle ringers standing out in the cold. Not because they're standing out in the cold - which, as has been pointed out, I do not enjoy - but because they're sacrificing their time for something. They're standing out in the bitter wind, fingers and toes freezing off, nose running, trying to hunker down in their coats for the sake of those who are less fortunate. And that is more than any of us can say we do for the less fortunate.

Around this time, everyone starts thinking about what they want for Christmas (or whatever religious holiday you celebrate this time of year). Whether it's an iPhone, iPad, new pair of boots, vacation to somewhere warm, or whatever I-knot-it's-expensive-but-hey-it's-Christmas item(s) you want, I can guarantee there are others out there that want a meal over the newest iPhone.

I'm not slamming Christmas lists in any way; I have a pair of headphones and a new phone on my list, therefore it would be hypocritical to say that Christmas lists are bad. After all, we're only human (Thank you Jon McLaughlin). But at the same time, I always feel satisfied during the holiday season. That's not 100% true - every single girl wants an attractive boyfriend to snuggle up with by the fire - but for the most part, I don't want anything. 

I love seeing the kindness people display this time of year. There are always those people who stop thinking of themselves and what they want for Christmas and find some way to help others. We all nod and smile, commending them for their good deeds and saying, "What a good person." But we never get up and do anything besides smiling and nodding and commending them for their good deeds. Why? Because. Nice answer, right? That's because I honestly don't have an answer. Maybe because we're only human; we're more concerned with ourselves and our own happiness. I mean heck, we live in Wayzata. The student cars in the parking lot are nicer than the teacher cars. Lots of people have iPhones. We spend tons of money on TVs for the hallways. We are not aware of the rest of the world. We could barely cough up money last week for the Student Council fundraiser, yet when we were offered ice cream sandwiches, students parted with their money. Why? Because there was something in it for us. There has to be something it it for us, and God forbid should we give up our free time to help those people, especially because we don't know them. There are certain individuals who do, but there's always room for more people to help out in the world. 

We are given a rhetorical situation. We are called to action by the poverty, hungry stomachs, and the homelessness around us, even though we don't see it. Yet more often than not, we don't help out. It's the holiday season; it's a time of happiness, family, smiling faces, hot chocolate, and an abundance of love. But it isn't that way for everyone. My challenge for myself, and the world, is that we all sacrifice something this holiday season - be it our time, money, or bonding with our friends - and make the world a better place for one person this season. One person. If you're feeling generous, make it two...or more :)

Happy holidays (ahh-oo-oo). Make it a happy holiday season for someone else - not just yourself :)