Christmas Special or Special Christmas?

I watched "The Ultimate Gift" with Cassy tonight.

Before I share my thoughts on this holiday-timed movie, let me just say that my observation of Christmas Movies/Specials in general have always been hit or miss. Mostly miss. This is in regard to the typical cliche or canned feel that is a part of mass-appeal schlock.

Perhaps that is what makes a select few stand out so much when it doesn't touch on those well tread lanes.

I really enjoyed "The Ultimate Gift". It not only made me think, but feel for the characters. I genuinely cared for the characters, in the sense that I was immersed enough to have a healthy suspension of disbelief.

Many people state that one mustn't forget "The Reason for the Season". I can't help but dwell on the concept of not necessarily remembering the supposed reason for a season, but to at least realize that the world does not revolve around oneself. It's multi-faceted and multi-personed. Is that a word? Oh well. You get my drift.

We can't always help being self-centered. It's a survival thing, even when we aren't aware of it. A true test of character may be what we do when we do realize that our decisions and motives in the past have been such. It's not always so easy to remove ourselves from this course of habit, however. It's incredibly hard to change ones environment because there are so many other forces out there tugging at an already established trend of behavior and dwelling.

Sometimes, however... you reach a point of no return. A breaking point, if you will. Some call it an epiphany. Others the last straw. Call it what you will. You start to take control of your life instead of sitting back and just letting things happen. You fumble along as you try to grasp a life that has changed in your perception and in many dimensions. This may cause you to lose a lot, but it plants a seed.

You stop giving many people in your formerly settled life what they want (or a motive to even deal with you). You set off alarms with the people that don't like drastic change or worry what they have to lose, instead of what you're trying to gain for yourself and those around you in the long run.

This is where you realize who your true friends are, how true you've been to yourself and others, and your choices suddenly seem to have more impact in what your future will contain.

This is when you realize that you have very few friends, but that isn't necessarily their fault - mostly your own. The path you took. The choices you made. "You" being "I/my/me".

Anyhow... just sharing my thoughts. Not any sort of doctrine. Thank you in advance for your thoughts or words.

Thanks for reading and have a Merry Christmas.

Kevin