Let's decide not to complain

My family and I watched the "old-school" cartoon classic...The Grinch That Stole Christmas last night on ABC. During the cartoon, ABC kept running the advertisement for their 25 days of Christmas TV schedule. Every night they will show the classic Christmas cartoons mixed in with a few of the newer ones from the last 15 or so years. Last year this was one of the fun family things we did in the evenings as the days rolled by in December. Mixed in with a few parties and dinners, each night in December is filled with a bunch of festive FUN! Speaking of Christmas parties and good times...let me get something off my chest that frustrates me every year! Maybe, we can stop it around CSF...before it starts.

Every Christmas Season I hear one of the most frustrating grumblings from people that quite frankly turns my stomach. Since December and all the festivities is only one day away, I wanted to remind us all that we live in a great country that is full of abundance that affords us the privilege to have a good time with family and friends almost all month long. Every year, I hear people complaining about "all the parties and dinners they have to go to!" People will say something like.."Do you know I have a party every Friday and Saturday night in December?" Or they complain..."I am so busy with having to go to the mall, make cookies and then still find time to attend four special Christmas parties."

Do we realize that we are the only country that would ever complain about "having to go to parties with family and friends!" Think about it...what would people who are less fortunate in our country or those in other poorer countries say if they actually heard us complaining about "all the parties and shopping we have to do!"

Think about it....we are complaining about the abundance of food and fun we are privileged to partake of every December. Now, I can hear some of you saying...but it is that we are "out almost every night and it just gets tiring." Really? That is the reason for the seasonal complaining that we do every year?

Here is solution for that challenge: Say no! If you don't want to go to 5 Christmas parties in 2 weeks....say no to a few. However, please don't get caught in the suburban crying of having to eat too much, party too much, spend time having fun with family and friends too much! We come across as thankless spoiled brats.

Is Christmas over commercialized? Sure....

Has Christmas turned into a month long time of hustle and bustle? For some...

However, you are the controller of your party calendar and what you allow Christmas to be in YOUR home and life. No one forces us to start shopping the day after Christmas, no one forces you to attend "all those parties" and no one makes you miss the meaning behind Christmas. We choose to make Christmas and the month long extravaganza what we want it to be for our family. Personally, I love all the parties and dinners with friends. If you don't.....don't go. If you do make all the plans..please, let's don't complain about it.

Okay...I am done!