Christmas is what we make it

"Life is what we make it." So goes that popular quotation which we used to write on the autograph way back our high school days. Yes, and so is Christmas, as in Christmas is what we make it.

It's almost Christmas Day. But ask some people if they can now feel the spirit of the Yule season and chances are you'd get some dry answers like: "Parang di ko pa feel" or "Lahi ra gyud this year" or something to that effect. Why is this so? Well, it could be because their perception of Christmas has changed through their living years brought about by the signs of the times as a result of man-made changes in the world. Let's pause for a while and ponder: Why is it that before, we were contented and happy with just having hamon and queso de bola for noche buena or just a simple gift wrapped in an inexpensive ordinary Christmas wrapper? Maybe our standard of living has gone up one or two steps higher so much so that we are no longer contented with the things we used to enjoy? Or maybe we have been influenced by our peer groups, colleagues and associates thus we are no longer satisfied with what we have? Status symbol, wanting more, living la vida loca, hi-fi or wi-fi living or whatever. It is when we put too much pressure in life that we become stressed out. High standard of living. High expectations. These cause stress. And once stress comes in, that's when we start developing those signs and symptoms of the so-called lifestyle diseases. Remember, we cannot have everything in this world. Life is not a contest. We are all just passing by. Everything is temporary. We don't own anything in this world.

Let us remind ourselves of the true meaning of Christmas: Jesus is the Reason for the Season. Jesus is IT. Nothing more, nothing less. Simplify life. Live simply. Don't worry. Be happy. May the spirit of Christmas bring us joy, peace, hope and love.

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas, let your heart be light, from now on our troubles will be out of sight..."