Photo credit: erin mckenna – @epw615
Last week was a rough one.
I like to say Christmas got the best of me.
My to-dos were a-plenty, budgets exceeded, and if my kids add one more thing to their Christmas list I’m gonna blow.
There really wasn’t a damn thing anyone could do to get me out of my holiday rut.
So, what do you do when you are completely cashed and on the brink of a holiday breakdown?
You get in your car for another trip into town to check more things off of the list that just seems to keep growing.
Let’s just say the jolly AF drained from my body, but we must forge on even when the Christmas flame starts to flicker out.
My first stop was Hortons for a check-in with our partner and a little Christmas shopping.
While I stood in the heart of The Christmas Shoppe, surrounded by all of the twinkling lights and chatting with the hardest working woman I know, I noticed a familiar face.
The face of a local man I often see walking the streets of our town.
He looks like everybody’s favorite grandpa with a kind face and a sort of sadness in his eyes.
Whenever I see him my heart breaks a little.
What if he is lonely? I wonder.
While he stood peacefully gazing at the twinkling lights and sipping on a can of soda, I mentioned my observation of him to Cortney, and it was there I learned that he comes in every single day for a can of soda and to enjoy the twinkling lights.
She said, “he is welcome here.”
Tears welled up in my eyes like George Bailey in It’s A Wonderful Life.
I suppose the onset of my holiday exhaustion played a role in my emotional response, but mostly, I was moved because I was happy.
Happy to know there are people like the owners of Hortons whose doors are open to everyone.
Even those who don’t have lists as long as their arms.
The random act of kindness that this bestowed upon this man every single day was the reminder I so desperately needed at that moment.
All this burnout and exhaustion, for what?
It’s not about the gifts, decor, and all the stuff!
Christmas time is about helping your fellow man and this moment was such a beautiful example of what acceptance and compassion look like.
I don’t think this moment I witnessed was an accident. Someone knew I needed a pick-me-up.
Maybe it was my guardian angel.
Keep your head up and pay attention to the world around you.
And remember, goodwill to all.
That is the true spirit of Christmas.
Stay cozy,
Michelle
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