All I Want For Christmas Is Peace

You can't turn on the radio in December or step into a mall without Mariah Carey belting her Christmas classic. Over the past decade, it has become a universally known Christmas anthem, but this year something about it rubbed me the wrong way. And yes, the holidays are behind us, but I need to say my truth and hopefully others would benefit from hearing it.

I've adored Christmas ever since I was a child. Family coming together around the Christmas tree, baking cookies and telling stories, exchanging presents, and sharing a laugh. The snow, the mistletoe, the caroling, everything holds a special appeal. It truly is, in my humble opinion, the most wonderful time of the year. I can't tell you the number of Hallmark specials I consumed over time, nor the amounts of cozonac - a special dessert specific to Southeastern Europe and especially Romania, my country (I actually had the last delicious remnants of cozonac this morning). I'm that girl with the ever-changing Christmas sweaters, determind to spread around holiday cheer.

Watching so many holiday movies I noticed a lot of recurring themes, but one, in particular, struck a chord. The Christmas wishes. You know all about that, right? Everybody wishes for a cool new watch, the latest phone, a killer addition to their wardrobe, maybe an exotic vacation or something even more outlandish like a car. Or, in some cases, a missing/deceased loved one (remember those sad letters to Santa, written by a rosy-cheeked boy who looks too young to even write? They get me every time). Well, if the last two years taught me anything, it's there is something more important than all of the above, an absence that renders the rest meaningless. 

All we need is peace

I've done a lot of soul searching since the pandemic started. Religion, therapy, spiritual healing, books, articles. Heck, I even wrote a spiritual urban fantasy based on my new awareness. That's why every time Mariah Carey crooned about her only wish-to have her sweetheart with her for the holidays, something in me rebelled. Material goods and even relationships are not enough if we don't have peace. And I'm not talking about the literal sense of the word. That's something very relevant, but thankfully hard to relate to by the majority on the globe. No, I'm referring to inner peace. If your being is ripped apart by various opposing forces it doesn't matter the quality of your clothes and your gadgets, the laughter and love that surrounds you. Sure, they're very nice to have, especially the latter, but it's not enough.

Did it ever occur to you to feel unhappy without an apparent reason? To be unable to find the why and feel guilty for it, because you know others might be more entitled to the feeling than you? (Which is rubbish, of course. Everyone is different and we shouldn't be ashamed of the way we process things.)

The point is, every house needs a sturdy foundation. Without it, however happy the family is, it cannot live there, because the walls could crumble at any given time. Along with the fancy windows, impressive arches, and so on. 

Above all else, we need peace. 

We need to feel safe and secure with ourselves before we can ever hope to connect with another or enjoy the commodities of living in the 21st century. 

"Nobody can bring you peace but yourself." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The best Christmas present

And so, the most meaningful Christmas present should be strenghtening your core and seeing to your wellbeing first. That may mean therapy, meditation, breathing workshops, or as little as putting aside time for yourself-a bi-monthly appointment to the hair salon, nails, a weekend getaway, or just clearing an evening a week solely for your own pleasure. Reading in bed until the wee hours of the morning (but waking up completely energized), watching bad reality TV, working out, going to the cinema on your own, anything and everything that speaks to you. There are no wrong answers as long as your actions don't bring harm to another.

If you do that, I guarantee that the Christmas lights will sparkle more brightly, the carols will chime lovelier, and you'll be able to be there for your loved ones in a way that was unattainable before. 

In conclussion, dear Mariah, in tranquility you'll find your love. 

By A.M. Radulescu

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