Skip to main content

‘Tis the Season

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE by Jonna Shutowick, M.S. Ed.

It’s that time of year again: people cutting in line because they obviously have somewhere to go; crowded stores and streets; and the endless music being piped into our lives; indoctrinating the “holiday spirit” (spend your money) into our weary souls, if only for a few stressful weeks. The holiday season really has become a direct manifestation of our culture. We have a very all-or-nothing attitude when it comes to celebrating. Maybe that is because most of us are truly too busy working to take the time out to celebrate in moderation on a more frequent basis. No, in America it is “Go hard or go home! During the work week, we work hard. On the weekends, we play hard. During the summer, we vacation hard. And during the holidays, we rejoice – hard! We jam it all in: the food and drink, the running around, the sleep deprivation, and the dent in our bank accounts, the family obligations and politics… all in honor of the “holiday season.” I’ve never been much of a “Put the ‘Christ’ back in ‘Christmas’ groupie, but I have to say, in the WWJD camp, I’m betting he would have more than a few words of wisdom for our flawed ways. And it is clearly the result of our post-modern existence because people go through this stress whether they are Christian, Jewish, Muslim or Atheist. The “holiday season” is less and less about its message and more about scheduling in a little family time because, well, we should.

Predictably, with all of the added stress that this season brings, I too fell victim to the clock. My calendar has been full to the brim and I have not had a chance to come up for air. So, when this column was due, and I felt the swish of the deadline go by, I thought about what I could write that would be insightful, but not require an inordinate amount of precious time. Here is what I came up with: It is a suggested list of things we can give to each other this holiday season (adopted from Oren Arnold): (see poem above picture)
If you are reading this, then you have taken a little time out to smell the roses. Maybe you are sitting in the doctor’s office (if so, good luck!) Perhaps you are in line at the supermarket (get those M&M’s.. it is the season!). Wherever you are, may this poem remind you what this season is all about and help you stay positive in the face of all of the stress that this time of year brings, and may you carry it with you into the New Year as a gift for those you have yet to meet. Blessings!

To your enemy, give forgiveness To an opponent, give tolerance To a friend, give your ear To a customer, give service To every child, a good example To all, the charity in your heart To a stranger, a smile To yourself, respect


Jonna Shutowick is a high school teacher for the Palm Beach County school district. She has created a character named Rosey Shades TM, whose philosophy teaches students about the importance of choosing optimism over pessimism by asking, “What color are the clouds in your world? For more information, visit www.roseyshades.com or email: http://roseyshades-onthebrightside.blogspot.com/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How Did We Get Here?

  People are asking that a lot lately, and unfortunately, the answer just seems to be, “It’s their fault.” The blame game  gives politicians plenty to exploit as they hope to rile us all up to vote this way or that. I see no sense in Republicans or Democrats claiming to know how to effectively govern in tumultuous times. This is a new historical moment. No one has the answers. None of us knows how to deal with global pandemics, artificial intelligence, and disinformation campaigns on the levels we are seeing today. No one. Because we have not been here before. We have, however, throughout the history of civilization, experienced tumultuous times. And we have not, historically, handled them well. It has been our human tendency to become ethnocentric to the detriment of entire peoples and continents. This we have seen again and again, and the rhetoric of politicians and political leaders around the world today is reminiscent of past turbulent times. From the invention of the wheel to the
Post a Comment
Read more

Ages and Stages

Ages and Stages By Jonna Shutowick. M.S. Ed.   School-aged years are far more challenging for some than we give them credit for. Sure, we all know the middle school years are awkward. What parent hasn’t had to tell their child at some point that “none of this will matter soon, you’ll see”? The early bloomers learn this lesson in late elementary school, most learn it by the 9th grade, but there are some still within the “normal range” who do not understand the truth of this until they are nearly 20. That is a huge 10 years! And, of course, this is the reason for social groupings and cliques and anti-bullying campaigns, and the like. The years between ages 10 and 20 see major shifts in emotional growth and, to compound matters, major physical shifts as well. Not everyone matures at the same rate. Nor do our physical, mental, emotional (and, by proxy, moral) abilities mature necessarily in concert with each other. In fact, a challenge in one area often impedes on the others, cre
2 comments
Read more