Rosy Glow – “All I want for Christmas”

By

Andrew DeMarco

It is that time of year where we are getting ready to spend time with family and friends and putting together our Christmas wish lists. While spending more time with family can be challenging, putting together a wish list can be simpler. These lists will include the usual items which we could use and others that make no sense at all, but we accept them with gratitude in the spirit of the holiday. (Note to family, please no more socks or golf balls.) There are other items on our wish lists that can be elusive; these might include winning the Lottery, health and happiness, and the biggest most elusive wish of all peace on earth.

With all that is going on in the world, terrorism on the rise, gun control, a dysfunctional government, the resurgence of the old Soviet Union, climate change and a still sputtering economy it is easy to see why peace on earth and happiness seems the most elusive and also seems to be a wish that will never be fulfilled. Other issues such as immigration and the homeless make peace and happiness become an even more distant possibility.

The recent terrorist attacks in Paris and California, especially coming during the holiday season, have added to our angst to the point where some believe that nothing can be done to protect ourselves from terror. Add to that the fact that many see our government as dysfunctional which means that they cannot agree on how to protect us which further adds to this angst. This dysfunction is multiplied even more by the fact that we are in a presidential election cycle so politics and policy dominate the news even more than usual and differences become even more pronounced. All this leads us to a feeling of utter despair and pessimism that there is no hope and our wishes will never be fulfilled. Despair and pessimism have never lead to anything being accomplished.

Before we can make strides in achieving our wishes for peace and happiness we have to rid ourselves of our negative thoughts and angst. This leads me to what I want for Christmas, which is simply defined as a hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something. You all know what that word is, and if not I will remind you, it is the definition of optimism. That’s right all I want for Christmas is for everyone to get a new dose of optimism! It is an elusive gift to wish for but one that is absolutely necessary at this time.

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.

Helen Keller

Helen Keller had it right! Before there can be peace on earth or anything else on our Christmas wish list, anything we have to achieve has to begin with more optimism. We have to have that hope and confidence that we can achieve optimism, and that we can be a catalyst in making that change. That through our hope and confidence we can be the change to our dysfunctional government, which can lead to other changes and finally that by alleviating our angst with optimism anything is possible.

So for this Holiday Season my wish is that we all take that first step and get that dose of optimism. As we have proven time and time again there is nothing we cannot achieve with hope and confidence which is optimism. I’m optimistic this year that I will not get those socks or golf balls but if not I will continue to be optimistic for next year. May this new optimism give us all that feeling that is synonymous with what Cousin Bob would call that…. Rosy Glow!

Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays

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A Happy and Healthy New Year