The Other Fifty

Something about “The Season” brings out good things in people.  It brings out lots of things, really, but, for some reason, the good things seem more salient.  Maybe it’s because we see more of those moments in others.  Maybe it’s because we’re more attuned to the Spirit of The Season.  Maybe it’s a little of both.

I can only speak for myself, but I think our attenuation to goodness increases during this time of year.  We look for it.  We expect it.  It shocks us when we see people being nasty.  We shake our heads when we see greed.  There is simply this unwritten rule that this holiday season is about doing something a little extra for others.

And why is that?  Because of the Winter Solstice?  Yeah, I don’t think so.  I think it’s because it has become a collective expectation.  It is part of the experience.

It’s a shame that collective expectation exists for two weeks each year.  We could really use it the other fifty.