Are you happy or sad?
It’s the day after Christmas and many are nursing sore heads and swollen stomachs whilst clearing away the debris of the day.
Later there may be further indigestion as we receive credit card bills that reflect our genorisity to ourselves and others.
Whether we are happy or sad this boxing day morning depends not on the quality of the presents or the size of the hangover but on the quality of the relationships we enjoy.
My Christmas started well, when on it’s eve I connected with a long lost friend on Facebook and then received messages from others far away. Later that day we had an open house and friends old and new graced us with their presence rather than their presents.
Christmas morning commenced with the ritual present opening under the tree with the children with it’s mixture of joy and tears as one siblings present was envied by another; and after we cleared away the wrapping paper we headed off to a hotel for a champagne brunch – all very decadent but it was the company that made it.
So as I reflect on the last 48 hours, I have to admit I am a fan of Christmas; not for the tree and the tinsel or the mad crowds in the shops, but because despite the rampant commercialism it reminds us that what makes us happy is friends and family.
May your friends and family be safe and close in 2009.
(Copyright Andrew Bryant – no reproduction without permission, thank you)
