Pre-Christmas Slump

Usually my pre-Christmas slump starts with the first commercial surge. Bombastic TV commercials proclaim great savings, selection, deals, etc. and suggest that holiday joy comes from a new Lincoln MKX or a wife's joy will originate from opulent jewelry. The imagery is vivid and the thread of many commercials is often a drumbeat at 120 beats per minute. (I timed the rhythm and 120 is the standard rate.)  

Each day the materialistic drumbeat continues, with increasing intensity as Christmas Day approaches. Each day my psyche is beaten down by the sales hype for goods I cannot afford. Each day the volume increases and the mute button affords solace as long as I do not linger on the man (who seems about my age) driving the MKX with a tiny suggestion of a smirk. I always thought I would enjoy my senior age in comfort but such is not the case. I guess that depends on one's definition of comfort. 

Other ads portray ideal people, comely and joyful, wearing diamond earrings or sitting on a luxurious leather recliner. This leads to another common thread. The people are joyous. This is my pratfall because I see people in real life, effusive, laughing and I'm not in that space so I think there is something wrong with me and my gloom magnifies with the real or imagined cheer around me.

I know enough not to let this happen but the ads hit me from my blind side, when I am hungry or tired or stressed. Then I compare myself to the guy in the MKX and I come up short. 

I have not reached the ideal of luxury or money in the bank but that's okay. I have learned that it is okay when I don't feel okay. The thing is for me to filter my feelings through the attitude of gratitude, in other words I need to count my blessings.


I can look at the dark, negative side of life, then hinder myself with unrealistic expectations and take my eyes off the reason for the season. Jesus did not enter the world to a rich family nor did he become a member of the aristocracy. He rode a donkey, not a chariot. He lived as a working man, not an administrator. His was the life of caring for others.

A sure-fire help for my mood is to give generously to the Salvation Army kettle, or to attend my A.A. meetings, to pitch in and help with household chores, in other words take the advice of local A.A. gurus and get out of myself.