I can't be the only one who feels like this "holiday season" totally snuck up on me. School finished not even a week ago. And since I had school straight from September, sans Thanksgiving break, I feel like I came home looking for a break, only to be thrust into the chaos of CHRISTMAS SHOPPING.
Seriously, for a holiday meant to exude merriness, cheer, generousity, kindness, and so on, so forth--I hate people more than ever. Ok, not hate per se. But they do frustrate me much more, than usual. I'll admit, I can get annoyed while driving at those around me, for incompetent driving manuevers and poor driving etiquette, but for the most part, I am pretty laidback and patient with even the most moronic folks. Really though? C'mon, this is a little much.
Accounting for the moral of the season and the overarching themes that are publicized, I find that people tend to be more temperamental, impatient, rude, and just overall mean. This holiday season has people at each other's throats maybe because they're on the clock and under pressure to get the "perfect gifts." But this unneccesary emphasis on getting the "perfect gifts," has people showing their worst sides. I mean, I understand. We all have people in our lives we care about and want to impress with our thought and consideration via the presentation of a physical manifestation of our affection...in other words, a present. To what end though?
I mean, some of my griefs are inevitable. Considering where I live is already congested like hell, this shopping hysteria has the roads filled to max capacity, sometimes full for multiple blocks, making a typical 10 minute drive...into a half hour. Ok, traffic sucks. I get it. I'll deal for these next few days. But not only am I wasting more gas and more time than usual, but the quality of drivers is at an all-time low. I suppose that with the overall number of drivers increasing, we might assume that proportionally, the percentage of horrible drivers would also go up. People are cutting people off like it's their job, no one remembers what a signal is for, traffic laws go out the window, and no one wants to let anyone go. Because we are our own priority. We are what matters because we are in a hurry. Worse, the mall parking lot is so congested that cars roam like vultures and fight aggressively for a stupid spot closer to the entrance, lest they walk. God forbid they get some exercise. I know in one instance, two cars got into an accident over a spot. I wonder if it was worth it then.
I know that, personally, I had to slam hard on my brakes because some dumb girl was in such a rush, she neglects to look at whether the cars with a green light are going. Cause, why would cars with a green be driving? Nah, she was a bright one to run across the street like she was a damn frog with respawns. Luckily, my years of video gaming have honed my periphs and reflexes. Otherwise, she wouldn't have made it across the street to...WALGREENS? What a crappy place to die for. What're you doing? Getting someone a gift from there? Some cough syrup maybe? Or store brand snacks? I know I wouldn't want to leave this life getting hit by a car while running to a drug store.
I don't know. I wonder about people sometimes. It's upsetting that everyone is so trapped and entwined in their daily happenings and their lives that they neglect to look at the larger picture and the irrational decisions/actions they make or take. Isn't this the time of year where we try a little harder to reach out to others? To strangers? Maybe do something nice with no regard for whether that deed will be returned. What does it say about your character if you only care to look out for and benefit those, who are likely and clearly able to reciprocate? Why buy gifts for people, hoping that they will get you a gift in return? Just save your damn money, get it for yourself, and stop putting up this silly facade of genuinely caring.
I guess this time of a year, really expresses what your priorities are and what kind of person you want to be regarded as.
As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December's bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same. - Donald E. Westlake
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