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Christmas, floods, and good neighbours
This post is from Vince who is wintering down in the Republic of Cork!
Well its that time of the year again…Christmas. Last weekend I watched ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ to get me in the mood. It’s a great movie and a really good example of the Christmas spirit in action!
The Christmas spirit is a funny thing. People seem to think that we start caring about our fellow men and women a few weeks before December 25th and somehow after that day the Christmas spirit evaporates and we turn back into our selfish old selves. I think the Christmas spirit is always there, it might be called different things, like community spirit, but it's just waiting for the right circumstances to express itself.
A recent example of the Christmas spirit in action was the flooding around the country. I was down in Cork for it and it was really heartwarming to see people helping out their neighbours in really practical ways, like making sure they had enough water or offering to do water runs for elderly people. Even the Clarion Hotel offered free showers to people! Good PR you might say, but why shouldn’t they get recognition for doing something good!
Some people have said that the Celtic Tiger has seen an end to community spirit in Ireland, but I think they have been proven wrong. That neighbourly, caring spirit is still there waiting to be revived and maybe now we need that spirit more than ever.
So let’s make sure that the Christmas spirit doesn’t end on the 26th of December 2009. Think of the little things that make a big difference to you and the people around you at Christmas time-- generosity, kindness, and goodwill make you and yours happier all year round!
Merry Christmas to all everyone on ReachOut.com and see you all in the New Year!
Chat later,
Vince
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Comments (Page 1 of 1)
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Ianb
8 months ago
Reply ReportI definitely agree that Christmas can be a mix of what's good and bad in people, and that isn't just at Christmas, but rather all year round.
It's not really that different than the rest of the year, except we have expectations-- it'll be happier, people will be more generous, or there will be long stressful car rides, and everyone will play catch-up on Stephens Day...
I think more than anything else, Christmas is a good time to reflect, relax, and figure out what's important to you-- and learn to ignore messages in the media, or pop culture about what Christmas is 'about'.
For me, it's family, friends and FOOD!
Happy xmas.
Edited by moderator 8 months ago