News Taffy

There are plenty of life lessons to be learned from simple children’s books. That is why we read them to our children after all. Perhaps we could benefit from reading one particular book this Christmas season. If you aren’t quite in the holiday spirit and find your heart is a few sizes too small, this post is for you.

“How The Grinch Stole Christmas” became an instant classic because we can all identify with the main character, either because we agree with him or because we know someone like him. But consider how utterly miserable the Grinch was, angry at other’s joy and unable to connect with his fellow man. In his attempt to make others just as miserable, he somehow underwent a transcendental change and was able to find the elements missing from his life - love, friends, community and a sense of belonging.

This holiday season, don’t let your own grinchiness isolate you from others. Open your heart to your friends and family, even those who have become estranged. Accept their differences and find common bonds to unite yourselves. Don’t allow anger, past disagreements and stubbornness to eat away at your own heart because you will surely suffer. The phrase, “his heart was three sizes too small” is a good analogy for the physical afflictions we suffer when we smugly carry a grudge or nurse our bitterness with others. If your attempts to reach out to someone are rejected, let go, move on and don’t let their poison infect you.

As humans we all share a core set of needs which influence our actions and feelings: a sense of security and control, validation of who we are, love and connection to others and the need to serve others for the good of all. Sometimes we lose track of those needs and a bit of the grinch enters our soul. Therefore remember that friends can come from unlikely places at unexpected times. We all will find ourselves vulnerable and in need of help at some point so don’t withhold your support from others. We must hold our community together despite our disagreements or we will all suffer in the end. Let us peacefully celebrate the good things in our life for just one day.

Put aside worries that your Christmas isn’t good enough, that you haven’t found the perfect gift or your neighbors decorations are better. Christmas is about celebrating an ideal and finding a better spirit within. “Maybe Christmas…. perhaps…..means a little bit more!” Carry that feeling in your heart - always.