This is my 6th painting since starting my Acrylic Painting classes. The teacher said I’ve come a long way since May. I’m not sure how true that is, but I’ll take the compliment.

Christmas doesn’t bring me joy. It feels fake. We decorate our homes with fake trees and tinsel. We buy presents nobody needs for people we don’t like, with money that could best be used elsewhere. We travel to spend time with people out of obligation, people who wouldn’t do the same for us. We watch dozens of silly Christmas movies, hoping to catch a feeling, but we don’t. We realize that all we are is a pawn on someone else’s chess board. We cook the party food and act like we’re happy to be at the party, all the while knowing none of these people would come to our party.

The best part of Christmas is that in another week we get a chance to start a new year. A fresh start. Will we do things differently in the new year? Will we lose the weight? Go to the gym? Become a better person? Leave something or someone behind? Find something or someone new? It’s at least fun to plan, whether we carry it through, or not.

Merry Christmas!