Merry *Bleeping* Christmas

So, I've been thinking a lot the last couple of weeks, and in the last few days since Christmas season first approached and, now, arrived. It doesn't really feel like Christmas today. In fact, I can't remember the last time it felt like Christmas to me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a scrooge. It's just, well, it could just be any other day to me. Let's face it, it really is just another day.

So there I was today, all alone on Christmas day in City X. I decided I should get out and see a movie. I went to the earliest showing of the film I wanted to see, "It's Complicated." I'm not ordinarily an early bird, but I decided it was worth saving a buck fifty (earliest matinee is cheapest). I was surprised by how many people also had the same thought. It was fairly crowded when I arrived. By the time my movie was over and I was on my way out the door, the theater was packed. Lines were going out the door. "Don't any of you people have families?" I heard someone behind me say.

We're all led to believe that nearly everyone on the planet spends Christmas with their family or loved ones, and surely, if you aren't and are alone, something is clearly wrong. But the truth is, I saw all kinds of people out and about on Christmas day. Suddenly, I didn't feel so alone. You mean, there are people like me that aren't with their families for the holidays, and they aren't sitting at home pondering putting a bullet through their brain? In fact, they're actually.... fine with it?

The media has led us to believe that everyone is happy at Christmas. Actually, the media has led us to believe that everyone around you is happy all the freaking time. Every single day. Everyone is happily married. Everyone is happy in their job. Everyone is happy with their financial success. Not only that, but everyone else is having more and better sex than you are. Lots more. Tons more.

And excuse me, but when did it become anything less than annoying when someone is one hundred percent happy, one hundred percent of the time? It reminds of the occasional fool who has said something to me like, "Effi you have such a nice smile, you should really smile more often." The next time some fool says this to me, here is my response: "Perhaps I would smile more often, if there weren't so many fools like you around to make me frown."

It's no wonder people rush to their doctor's for the quickest anti-depressant fix they can get. We all think there is something wrong with us. Surely, I fall into this category. And it's only thinking about it with more reflection that I realize I'm really not alone. Examine the next commercial, television program (minus HBO or Showtime) or movie you see. Notice how.....happy everyone appears? Now, on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your happiness?

The next time you are feeling alone, or like you are the only person thinking the thoughts you're thinking, just remember; there are thousands, probably millions of people feeling the exact same way. You really aren't alone.