All I Want for Christmas
Posted: Monday, December 05, 2011
by Dianne Lehmann
Artisan Jewelry from SyZyGy
Whenever I hear or read the words in the title, it always brings to mind that song, "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth." I can't say for a fact, but I'm pretty sure that I lost my two front teeth well in advance of Christmas. I don't remember ever having a Christmas without them. But then, my memory is not what it once was. I do remember they did not both fall out at the same time, but it was close. I also remember that I did not like growing new teeth. But at my current age, I think it would be nice to grow a replacement or two.
Peace is defined any number of ways. And I'm sure that it means something a bit different for everyone. At its most basic it means freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility. It can also mean free from war, strife, commotion, violence or disorder. There is also a more personal "inner peace" or "peace of mind" which refers to being mentally and spiritually at peace. This supposes that one is possessed of enough knowledge and understanding to keep oneself strong in the face of discord or stress.
For Myself or for the World: What I want for Christmas in regards to peace is really no different from what I want for myself and the world on a daily basis. For the world, I want the first two definitions. For myself, I want the last. While I would really like for the world to be a more peaceful place, it seems to me that as long as I have inner peace, I can weather any storm. I strive to remain calm while the world rages around me. I do a fair job of it, but I could use a little help now and then. Santa?
Love, in a lot of ways, is a tough concept to define. It doesn't stop people trying though. Basically, I guess you could say it is an intense feeling of deep affection. In reading a number of definitions, they all say about the same thing. But, again, I think we would all define it a bit differently.
Love is the thing that keeps a married couple together even when they are very angry with each other. Love is the thing that lets you overlook foibles, flaws and bad behavior. Love is what lets you smile when your husband eats the last few cherries you were saving for yourself and it keeps you quiet about the whole thing as well. Love is so many things.
I have plenty of love in my life. But the world could use a little more of it. The kind of love that means sharing or tolerance. The kind of love that lets us smile at our differences. So, Dear Santa, please bring the world a little more love this Christmas. Thanks in advance!
Happiness: I've often said that "happy is as happy does." My husband, Bernd, doesn't always get what I mean by that. And it's not really very easily explained as I have learned over the years. There's really only one way to be happy and that is to be happy. Things cannot make you happy. Events cannot make you happy. Only you can make you happy. It's a choice.
When I say I want happiness for Christmas, I'm really saying that I would like everyone on this earth to realize that the potential for happiness resides firmly within them. True, it is hard to be happy when you do not have enough to eat or a warm and safe place to sleep. It's hard to be happy when war rages around you and loved ones are lost. But consider this, if there is no thing that can make you happy, then is there really anything that can take it away from you? Unhappiness is a choice too.
It's so easy to get caught up in events that we often do not see what lies at our feet. We are always looking ahead or afar or back when nothing can compare to the "now." For me, happiness is in the moment. This moment, that moment, every moment.
I wish I thought that this was a gift that could be given to the world, but it can only be given to individuals. So, Santa, get your game on. You've got a big job to do this year. You've got my wish list. Now get on it.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Dianne, I love the logic in this piece. This is a spectacular wish list and I sincerely wish that Santa would get on with it. Hear that Santa. How can you not? This woman has really been good for the whole year and her every wish should come true.Hi Heidi.
You know, for myself, I have just about all that I want. Just about. A bigger piece of property with room for a horse or two might be nice. :) But beyond that, I am well blessed. So if Santa could just take care of the rest of the world, that would be nice. :)
So, how's your weather been? It's been darn cold here with lots of snow. Saturday night I "skated" through a red light. Luckily, laying on the horn as I went through kept the one car that made up the cross traffic waiting to go worked to keep it from getting in my path. Yeesh! Ask me again why I like winter. :)
Our low tonight is supposed to dip into the teens. I'm so glad I have a nice, snug, warm house.
Take care and many hugs to you,
DianneWow, you're having worse/colder weather than we are. It has been below 32 a few times. We really haven't had everything killed off yet. It's been amazing - except for our freak snow storm, we have had gorgeous weather. Today it went up to 59 and it was stunningly sunny and beautiful. A real God-given day. Our snow that was over 12 inches melted off within a few days. Nothing since. Strange.
Lucky about getting through that red light. Remember to give yourself heaps of time to brake.
I wrote my Christmas bit too. I have all I want like I've already said once or twice. It's another "not one of my best" but it's done and I put it there. Has a pix of me and Mitch when he was just a little guy. One of the great Christmas holidays we spent with his father.
Thanks, Dianne, for reminding us that true happiness is a condition of the heart. Though we bow and offer our salutations to the Bill Gates, Mike Dells and Steve Jobs of the world for making things a little easier (especially) this time of year, inner peace can only be attained when we as individuals are ready. Obviously there are few if any blueprints that apply and now over 6 billion different ways to do it.
Merry Christmas and best to you.
JohnHi John.
I have a hard time wrapping my head around that six billion figure sometimes. That's a lot of people!
Thanks for stopping by and a Merry Christmas to you too.
Hugs,
Dianne
Full and strong style with your usual heart and humor and then you come down with that heavy as lead profundity. Cheers.Hi Christofer.
I do like to look at all sides of an issue. :) But heavy as lead? Really?
Big hugs,
Dianne
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