Ho Ho Hold Your Temper

Last night, I braved the Rideau Centre, the epicentre of what I would like to call Christmas stupidity. My intent, to secure Christmas decorations from The Bay for our first Christmas Tree, and perhaps a small amount of gift shopping.

Beyond the decorations, which really couldn't wait (it is December 17th after all)
I don't know what in my being drove me out on a snowy night. Perhaps I had not seen enough of the worst of human behaviour last weekend when (in what can only be described as sheer lunacy)I went to the Eaton Centre on Saturday morning. Oh, that was a treat! Nothing like pushing and shoving and swearing and bad escalator etiquette to really warm your heart during this festive time of year.

What really eats at me, though, is how at a time of year when we are supposed to be filled with joy, friendship and the true meaning of life, people are so unbelievably rude. In this rush to accomplish all of their Christmas tasks, they push past people - old people, little people, pregnant people - singularly focused on finding that perfect gift. You know the one that will make them the Hero of Christmas. Ironically, and I am hardly the first person to observe or comment on this, their behaviour does everything but exemplify the meaning of Christmas. In a season that is supposed to be about others, they end up focused only on themselves and what they need to accomplish.

While I realize the chances of people changing their behaviour are about as good as Sarah Palin earning a doctorate from Harvard, I do have to make one Christmas plea.

Be kind to the retail staff. Seriously.

I've witnessed some pretty abysmal behaviour in my last two trips in to the apocalyptic chaos that is the metropolitan shopping mall.
I won't recount it because it doesn't deserve it, but I must say it sickened me.

When you get to a cash register, sit down at a restaurant, walk in to a spa or a salon, a liquor store or a grocery store, remember this:

The person standing in front of you didn't put all of the pressure on you to find a perfect gift for everyone you know. They're not responsible for the list you put in front of yourself, the four hours you've spent in the shopping mall without lunch, the fact that you have to make gluten-free stuffing because of cousin Jimmy's allergy or the fact that you need to find a small bottle of cooking sherry so that Aunt Doris doesn't drink what's left over from the trifle you intend to make.
In short, they are not responsible for your ridiculous Christmas expectations.

They are, however, working for the lowest wage in the country, during what is arguably the retail sector's busiest time of year. They are also, for the most part, trying to help you achieve your ridiculous Christmas expectations. And, with a few exceptions, they're doing it cheerfully, despite the fact that they have likely been standing on their feet for the same amount of time you've been in the mall and they'll likely be there long after you leave. When you are at home on Christmas Eve with your family - they'll be at work oh, and I almost forgot, they have the added benefit of getting to work on Boxing Day, which is, well..just like taking a vacation in Bora Bora.

I think you get the point. The amazing thing is, when you show just a smidge of kindness and holiday spirit to the person in front of you, it becomes infectious.
Try it some time, and see how many people around you start to smile, including the clerk, waitress or cashier. You might even start to feel better yourself - and who knows, maybe even become filled with the true meaning of Christmas.