FEATURE – I caught myself walking around, checking in; with Black Friday the flag dropped for the madness to begin.
On the one hand ’tis the season of grab, push and shove; on the other sacrifice, acceptance and love.
Some barely abide commercial confusion; others fully immerse in spiritual transfusion.
Vets assess threats to foil kidnappers, assaults, while kids scream “I want that” and do somersaults.
Some shy, some brazen, some poets or posers; others plow through crowds like mini-bulldozers.
Some want to stand out; others don’t want to be seen.
There are those who hate it or love it and those in between.
Mothers rein in their kids, driven out of their minds; others train up their young to be ducklings in line.
Some shop like monarchs with money to burn; others bound by their budgets, spend money yet to be earned.
Some have husbands or partners who share joy and appeal; others are alone, struggling to survive the ordeal.
Fathers run herd like drovers and cowboys; others gather loot to indulge good girls and boys.
Some will buy everything under the sun, soon buried in debt when the season is done.
Some bring home goose and warm spirits prevail, while others stay in shelters, are alone or in jail.
Some children mirror wonder and magic, while some cast back lives painful and tragic.
A sense of entitlement for some runs without rival; for others the season is merely survival.
Comfort for some comes with kin from afar; for others it’s stories of a manger … an easterly star.
For myself, I am clear and I’m on a new course, more reliant on empathy and less on remorse.
I’m less focused on bad and more on the good; I’m more understanding, I’m less misunderstood.
For you I wish courage – open up and be bare; believe in yourself, be willing to share.
Bruce C. Solomon is a licensed therapist in St. George working with people who have suffered any sort of trauma that affects theirs and their family’s lives. Opinions stated in this column are his and may not be representative of St. George News.
Do you have a question for Bruce about trauma affecting your life or someone you know?
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