Friday, December 25, 2015

Peace ... To All

Here's a little repostage, a regift, if you will, of my annual holiday wish. It still holds true....for me: 

Christmas means a lot of different hings to a lot of different people. 

It's a religious holiday.

It's a shopping holiday.
It's a day for those who shop religiously. 
I'm not a big fan of either.  

So for me, Christmas is a day to spend with those you hold most dear in your heart. For me, it's Carlos and my family. Of course, the family is mostly on the Left Coast and I'm over here on the right, so Christmas is me and Carlos, and Ozzo, Tuxedo, Max Goldberg, and Consuelo Roca Jones -- all our furry kids.  


It's a day of relaxation and togetherness; reflection and laughter; of a good dinner cooked and shared by the two of us. It's not a day for What did you get? or for thinking 
How could I have spent so much? It's a day for How lucky am I?  

How lucky indeed. 


Christmas is more than a celebration, it's a connection we all can share regardless of faith, if we look at it as a day of Peace. A day to relax; to forgive, if not forget. To be at Peace. 


Every year I get the same question from friends and strangers alike: What are you getting for Christmas? What do you want for Christmas? 

And I always say, What I get is a lovely day. What I want, and I ask for it every year, is Peace on Earth. 


So here's to Peace on Earth, and the little parts that each of us play in creating our own peace. To make amends to those we may have slighted in the past year; to those who may have slighted us. To talk with the people we love just because we love them. To be nice. 


Just to be nice. There's a concept.  


Maybe if we all took a moment to think about how we'd like to be treated, we would find ourselves treating others the same way. It's a small step, but an important one. A Please here and a Thank You there. You're Welcome is good, too, though My pleasure, is better. Hold a door open for someone; let someone with less packages get in line ahead of you. Lay off the horn. Don't speed. Smile. Be nice. 


Be at Peace.

Merry Christmas world. 
Happy Hanukkah. 
Happy Kwanzaa. 
Merry Festivus. 
Happy Holidays.
Peace.  

And so that's my wish for you and yours. Health. Happiness. Love. Peace. 


And, while I've said it over and over again, that I have my personal spiritual beliefs and they do not follow the teachings of any organized religion, every Christmas, no song makes me feel more peaceful, more happy, more at ease, more hopeful than this one.

And so I'll end with O Holy Night not because I am a religious man, but because I am a hopeful man, a peaceful man, a contented man, And no one, for me, sings it better than my girl, JHud.....Jennifer Hudson. 


11 comments:

  1. Skritches and pats to your furry kids from ours, Abby and Tar and granddoggy Kai. And hugs and kisses to you and Carlos.

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  2. Happy Xmas to you and to every single one of those around you, Bob. May your wishes come true for the sakes of all of us. We keep repeating them every year but just because it hasn't worked so far it doesn't invalidate them now. Here's hoping. Have a jolly few days!

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  3. Thank you, Bob, for a lovely repost; it certainly bears repeating. Wishing you, Carlos, and the furkids a beautiful day together.

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  4. Lovely sentiment! Merry Christmas to the house of Bob and Carlos from the House of Jones. Wishes for a peaceful day!

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  5. from mi casa to su casa, have a FUNderful day!

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  6. And peace to you and Carlos and to all on this blue marble.

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  7. I always love the post! Merry Christmas to you Bob and the whole household! Happy Tidings🎄🎄🎄🎄

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  8. Hope you two have a wonderful holiday! From me and Tim and all our guests, Merry Christmas!

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  9. Anonymous5:18 PM

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  10. i hope you had a lovely day and have many more to come.
    Daryl

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  11. I like your idea of Christmas. Hope it was a lovely day. :-) Happy new year to you, Carlos, and the furry four.

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