For the last few weeks of the year, regardless of the heated debates going on in Washington and the various crisis situations plaguing the nation, I will be writing a bit less than usual. (You may have noticed a slowing of output already.) This is nothing unusual for me, as this is a season for some of us to focus on things closer to home, friends and family. But before those final shopping days slip away, I wanted to share a few things with our readers and extend my heartfelt wishes for a safe, happy holiday season – whichever ones you may celebrate – filled with love and joy and a prosperous, healthy new year to come, full of hope and the infinite possibilities of the human spirit.
These sentiments don’t come as easily this year as they have in the past. For those who may not have heard from our other online discussions, I very recently became unemployed for all intents and purposes from my primary “day job” activities. This came, as it has to so many of my associates who work in this modern, online information services era, in the form of outsourcing. A contracting group I work with, despite repeated compromises and cuts, saw our work follow the “free trade” road to South America and India. (We won’t dwell on that too much, since I can already see my conservative friends shifting uncomfortably in their seats when the subject we’re not supposed to talk about is brought up.)
What does the future hold? That’s hard to say. I had already made what I feel were sensible preparations against such a day, and I’m actively working on leads for replacement employment. I may also follow the path blazed by others of my generation and take a bit of a hiatus to go back to school and expand my resume in that fashion. (You’re never too old to keep learning.) Who knows? I might wind up losing my house, living in an apartment and working in a department store for a manager not yet free of acne, attempting to sell the latest washing machine and dryer combo to equally hard pressed consumers. Life is funny that way.
But no matter how the hand plays out, I still find a lot of happiness in this time of year and I hope that you all do as well. I have my health, such as it is, a loving family, some good friends, a roof over my head, food on my table and clothes on my back. I live in a place where I am free to speak my mind and publish my opinions free of reprisal from the government. (Well, at least for now.) My country allows me the freedom to worship in the church of my choice (or none at all if I so choose) and cast my votes for my representatives regardless of the balance in my bank account. Compared to so many people in this world I live in a land of dreams and luxury, no matter what career roadblocks I may encounter along the way.
So for all of our readers, I wish you not only a joyous holiday season, but the time to pause and consider the many blessings you have, no matter how bleak or bright your current situation may appear. You could wake up tomorrow and everything could change, either for the better or the worse. But if you live in the United States (with full apologies to our readers from the rest of the globe) you should keep in mind that you find yourself with an embarrassment of riches and blessings which are the envy of billions. And if you have even one family member or friend or fellow member of your church congregation or social group who you can look to, lean on, and share the unpredictable journey of life with, then you are indeed blessed, as corny as that may sound to say. Take some time to stop being a partisan in political wars and remember that you are a soldier in a larger battle – the struggle of civilization to constantly expand and improve itself. Count your blessings and share your joys and sorrows. You are a miracle of existence walking through a wonderland we will never fully understand.
So with no cares for repercussions from the overly politically correct, allow me to wish you all a Merry Christmas, and to all a good night.