Breathe, Smile, Laugh...

Breathe... appreciate the little things... the delightful things... look for those fleeting momentary opportunities to relax those facial muscles and lift one corner of your mouth in kind of a smile... don't resist that... go with it... nurture it... shield it from the bitter winds as you would the faltering flame of a lonely match... let it catch fire to you and grin widely... laugh in spite of yourself, at yourself, with yourself... but, most of all, smile and laugh... it's addicting... and contagious.

I Fear No Friendly Greeting!

Okay, I see it is already starting... it's the Happy Holiday Party versus the Merry Christmas Party. Look... isn't there enough fighting in the world?
Me? I say, "Merry Christmas." I've never, ever, Ever, EVER had anyone quibble with me about it. I think that's just urban legend. I think it is just axe grinding. It is flinching before one is struck.
Think about that... in over half-a-century, no one has ever argued with me if I told them to have a Merry Christmas. Ever. 
Now, If someone... anyone... goes out of their way to wish me a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, a Happy Holiday, Season's Greetings, Lovely Kwanzaa, Cool Yule, Swingin' Solstice, or whatever, then I just thank them and wish them the same. If I am truly humble, it means I accept good will in whatever form it is offered... and I return it with a smile. 
I cannot imagine what I would be like if I were to feel threatened by the kind wish from another human being, regardless of its wording. 
So, Let other people wish others well in their own fashion, and you may wish them well in your fashion. I mean... who wants to start a fight over what kind of glad tidings one has been given freely? Sheesh!

The Other 1%

I think there is another 1%...
There is a small (but hopefully growing) subset of the population who are basically happy, and grateful for what they do have and for their friends and family... who do not spread negative press or cause/join needless conflict... who do not think that compassion means weakness or that acceptance means ignorance... who appreciate life, love, peace, and good cheer... who are more amazed and awed at the smallest, most delightful of spiritual things than they are angry and resentful at the largest, most outrageous of material things... who realize that true wealth is there for the asking, if one is willing to give up the fight against nothing.
I belong to this Other 1%.
Who's with me?