Day 28: A-OK
Santa Claus is coming. To town.
Tues, Dec 3
Yesterday was a gold-star kindness day! I had my usual 12:00-3:00 shift at the hospital, and it was, as always, a humbling 3 hours.
There isn’t a specific moment I can chronicle, but I had a little snicker at the sign hanging in the volunteer office… warning of Santa’s arrival.
I say that it’s never too late to be good, but once you decide to go nice- it would be a tragedy to go and get yourself back on that naughty list.
The sentiment stuck with me throughout my shift, and I kept a quiet mind and soft voice throughout all my interactions. I felt a bit off, but more precisely a bit subdued, or melancholy even. It’s hard to be so full of Christmas cheer when others around you are suffering, or are destitute, or perpetually lonely. It seemed that every patient (or visitor) I asked wasn’t ready, but more noticeably wasn’t looking forward to the holidays. The absence of joy or the dread of Christmas is a sad, sad thing. But a reality for many people. It feels almost indulgent to look forward to the holidays in spite of all the people that are saddened by the season.
Today is the annual holiday lunch at the hospital, and it will be nice to enjoy time with some fellow volunteers and staffers without the heaviness I experienced yesterday.
It is wonderful to be able to spread joy in a radiant, selfless way, but this year I wonder if containing it and cherishing it will be a more noble way to embrace the season. Because flagrantly spreading joy does not mean others will except the sentiment, and my own light from within does not depend on another’s filter or lens in which they view it from.
Related articles
- Santa Claus Comes to St. Clare’s (stclares6th.wordpress.com)
- Tracking Santa: 5 Ways To Get In Touch With Santa Claus (mommyofamonster.com)
- Yes Virginia…there is a Santa Claus (letstalktexas.wordpress.com)
- Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus! (iliannamathioudakis.wordpress.com)
- Santa Claus is coming to town (calliewriggs.wordpress.com)
the noel project 