Yeah, I'll label myself here...

Greetings Faithful Readers…and all you faithless ones too, I guess…

It’s that time of year again: Holiday Season. It’s the time of year when everyone spends countless hours perusing stores and shops trying to find that perfect gift for those family members that they never see, and probably don’t care about that much anyway. Yes…you can probably tell my general feeling about the holiday season by that single statement: I pretty much loathe the time from Thanksgiving through New Years and cherish the time when I can look at the calendar and see January 2 upon it. Yeah…I’m a scrooge. Lets look at why, shall we?

My understanding of the history of the holiday season is that it used to be a good thing, and even I used to think it was good. A looong time ago, probably around the year 1982, I looked forward the holiday season just like every other red blooded American. Lets face it…tons of food on Thanksgiving, presents and more food on Christmas and then you get to stay up late for New Years…what’s not to like?! We, as Americans, probably eat more food in this one month span than whole countries eat in a year…and that’s pretty sad, you know? Don’t think that I’m trying to be Sally Struthers and say “we should think of the starving African children” here…I’m not. I’m just trying to say that this is one thing that bothers me about this time of year…the gluttony.

Another MAJOR issue for me during this season is the unabashed commercialization of it. I’m not kidding at all when I say I went to Wal-Mart in September and saw Christmas decorations up for sale already. SEPTEMBER!!! In a couple years, you’ll be able to buy the “deeply” discounted Christmas decorations from the preceding year at the same time that you can buy the new decorations for this year (this will probably occur around May of 2010…you watch). But, remember if you buy “last years” decorations, you are opening yourself up to ridicule and finger pointing from all your snobby neighbors and family members (“I remember we had THAT decoration LAST year…don’t you?”). Oh yeah…it’ll happen.

What happened? What happened to the days where Thanksgiving was TRULY about giving thanks for the things that you appreciate (family, friends, health, a huge freakin’ turkey on the table…)? What happened to the days where Christmas was remembering a little baby in a manger and the birth of a new era? What happened to the days where family and friends REALLY mattered?

I don’t know…I really don’t. Personally, I blame it all on Al Gore (if he hadn’t invented the internet and, single-handedly caused global warming, it might have snowed here yesterday). Why can’t this season be about giving back…not just to those people that you associate with and call “friend” or family members that try as you might, will never NOT be in your family…but to everyone? Why not do something for someone else…for a total stranger…someone who will never know what you’ve done for them. Isn’t THAT what this season is supposed to be about?

Why? - Yes, I'm Being 2 Today

Greetings readers…

I was thinking last night about something that I kind of want to address here and see what you all think. This has to do something with the things that we, as people, put ourselves through on a day to day basis…about choices…about life. To paint a picture of what I’m getting on about, I’m going to give you a couple examples of people and then will make my points after.

Subject 1 is a 30 year old mother of two from a previous marriage that ended badly. She is presently in a long term relationship with someone that takes advantage of her, abuses her and is generally just not a nice guy at all. She wants things to change in her relationship, but she doesn’t think things ever will.

Subject 2 is a 30 year old mother of one. She is presently married to a man that does whatever he can to belittle and cut her down. She is getting tired of things and wants things to be better in her relationship with him, especially for her child, but fights often to stay above water.

Subject 3 is a 30 year old female who is in a long term relationship with her live-in boyfriend. He’s not doing well in his life and is taking this out on her and their relationship. She wants him to get better and wants to stay by his side.

Subject 4 is a 30 year old male who is in a long term relationship with his live-in girlfriend, mother of one from a previous relationship. He is the victim of infidelity, and yet still wants to be with the girl, if for no other reason than to be there for her son.

Subject 5 is a 30 year old male who is in a long term relationship with his live-in girlfriend. They’ve fallen on tough times and have had issues with trust and a general lack of communication. They are trying to make things work.

Subject 6 is a 30 year old father of one. He is presently married to a woman who is becoming more and more distant. He is also the victim of infidelity, and yet still wants to be there for his wife and his daughter.

Now, those are going to be our case studies for this question and thought process. I realize they are all negative examples of relationships and the hardships that can be faced…that’s the point.

What is it about us that makes us want to stay in a relationship with someone, especially if the relationship is anything like any of the above examples? Is there some inherent trait in the human condition that makes us want to stay and fight for something that may or may not ever work out? Is there a “never say die” part of us that, even when faced with insurmountable obstacles, we continue to fight on? If so, when does that end? If so, what is it that drives us? Hope?

I’m being serious here…I would like to know your thoughts on this.

For me, I think this kind of goes back to the “flight or fight” mechanism that is ingrained in us. It’s just a part of who we are. If this is true, at what cost do we continue to fight? At what point does one look at their situation and say, “I’m done.” And, when they come to this point, what do they think?

Having just gotten out of a relationship myself (and this is in no way ABOUT groovy or I, nor am I trying to feel justified in our decision…it was just a thought I had), I think you can only push so hard and for so long. You reach a point where you kind of sit there and think, “I’ve done everything I am willing and able to do.” But, why do we allow ourselves to push ourselves beyond the normal limits of what is acceptable? To push and push and push just for the HOPE of a better future?

Honestly…I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking you, oh wise reader.