having a positive and fun-filled christmas
Today is Christmas Day and you’re probably reading this early in the morning before your siblings or kids are up or before you’ll be going to visit your friends or family members to exchange gifts and spend some wonderful and joyous time with them.
So, I think this is a good time to go over a story that I heard a few years back and the invaluable lesson about the human nature it conveys.
Here’s how it goes:
A family had twin boys whose only resemblance to each other was their looks. Other than that, there were poles apart. If one felt it was too hot, the other thought it was too cold. If one said the TV was too loud, the other claimed the volume needed to be turned up. Opposite in every way, one was an eternal optimist, the other a doom and gloom pessimist.
Just to see what would happen, on Christmas morning, their father loaded the pessimist’s room with every imaginable toy and game. Then, he loaded the optimist’s room with horse manure.
That night the father passed by the pessimist’s room and found him sitting amid his new gifts crying bitterly.
“Why are you crying?” the father asked.
“Because my friends will be jealous, I’ll have to read all these instructions before I can do anything with this stuff, I’ll constantly need batteries, and my toys will eventually get broken.” answered the pessimist twin.
Passing the optimist twin’s room, the father found him dancing for joy in the pile of manure. “What are you so happy about?” he asked.
To which his optimist twin replied, “There’s got to be a pony in here somewhere!”
. . . . .
So, just a quick friendly reminder to all the parents and gift-givers of all sorts out there: the reaction that the receiving person has towards the gift that you just gave them tells more about who they truly are, and is not really a judgment of you or your gift.
Don’t worry about other people’s reactions today and just observe how they act and react. Rather than getting yourself wrapped in negativity, just unwrap your curiosity and as Jim Rohn pointed out, be “fascinated” by the different human behaviors you observe during the holiday season.
Give and receive gifts with all your heart, and simply let go of the reactions and judgments of other people. Don’t fall into the trap of labeling things ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ and be kind and compassionate to yourself and others.
Just be grateful for all the good things that come your way and let go of everything else. In simple words, be merry and joyous today and cherish the time you get to spend with your loved ones, no matter what.
Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas!
May the magic of Christmas fill every corner of your heart and home with joy and love — now and always.
