Observation #1: Starbucks has become the new Mommy and Me meet up spot. At least the one near me has. I went to Starbucks and bought and overprices cup of coffee because I thought it came with a quiet space to get work done alongside others doing the same. Instead, we workers were surrounded by groups of desperate housewives and stay-at-home moms gabbing to each other as their toddlers ran around or yelled loud noises. I'm not a child-hater; I just don't think that Starbucks is the venue for this behavior. Look what you have done, Suri Cruise: your carrying around Starbucks cups has made it the new cool spot for other three-year-olds! Guess I'll think twice before going back there to get work done!
Observation #2: While I may not agree with Starbucks's new clientele, I sure do love their holiday marketing campaign. There are signs all over the windows about wishing, giving and holiday cheer. They give me a warm feeling when I read them. They force me to remember the purest parts of the holiday season and help me relive those feelings I had about the holidays when I was younger. They seem to embrace the true meaning of the holiday season, like the Cabbage Patch and Scooby Doo Christmas specials did back in the day.
Christmas was always a magical time for me; I could barely get through Halloween knowing Christmas was right around the corner. These days, Christmas is already in the store before I'm done trick or treating. As I've grown older and now face life from the adult point of view, some of the magic has died or has gotten lost in the commercialism that has overtaken the season. Gift giving has become a chore cursed by money worries and checklists. No longer do we give gifts, there is the exchange of presents. There is a difference in the meanings of those two words: Life, love and the ability to dream are gifts. Presents are things you can buy in the store. One of Starbucks's signs encourages "giving." In a tough economy, one would think the store wants you to buy their product and spend money (which they probably do), but the surrounding signs bring feelings and thoughts of "hope" (another sign), tradition and memories. At least for me they did.
While procrastinating, I realized I was sitting in front of the best sign of all: "I wish grown ups could remember being kids." (I took a photo of it with my phone camera, to the right).
We shouldn't need a sign to remind us to acknowledge the kid inside of all of us, especially around the holidays. When's the last time you made a snowman...willingly? Or filled your mug with mini marshmallows before adding the hot chocolate? (I did that last night) Or sat staring at your Christmas tree because the twinkling lights made you smile? (I did that the night before).
We are always rushing, and the holidays seem to increase stress, not fun and spirits like they did when we were kids. I know I have more responsibilities now and more things on my mind other than who gets to open the advent calendar window after dinner. But how could I ever grow out of this season? Perhaps being a student, and unemployed, and far away from family has ignited the spirit and simplicity of the season of giving in my inner being once again. When I was little, my sister and I would clip coupons from the Walgreens flyer or save money to spend at the school store in order to get what we thought were the best gifts for our family. I will once again be clipping those Walgreens coupons and my mom will be getting a 99 cent snowglobe and box of chocolate covered cherries while Sean can count on a ten cent matchbox car. Just kidding, guys. Looking back, these presents were not about content or substance, but about the thought. The last several years I've filled my cart with presents I thought my family would love, but obsessed over everything being even until I had over-shopped for everyone. This year, I'm going to do my shopping not in terms of material, but meaning.
This holiday season, I hope everyone can remember the kid inside of them, even if for a few minutes a day in order to soak in the holiday season. Reacquaint yourself with the joy it is suppose to bring. There's a reason Andy Williams wrote an entire song about how this is the "most wonderful time of the year." I know I have lost that lovin' feeling over the last several years but this Christmas I am taking it back from the stores and the toy industry. However, Toys R Us did get one thing right: I don't wanna grow up... (you know the rest).
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