The phrase "Merry Christmas from my family to yours" has become a staple throughout the years ever since social media was born. It is often posted with a family portrait, with their best smiles and clothes usually in front of the Christmas tree. I call it a standard template when it comes to sending a greeting to everyone all over the internet. It brings about good and joyful comments from each other's circle of friends.
I often look at this tradition as showing off to the world what you have at the moment. Social media has been very instrumental in updating each other's life that it has become too easy to be privy to each other's business. For years, I skip this tradition on Christmas Eve. Not only because I don't have a complete family to celebrate with, but because I want to be sensitive to those who do not have much for the season. With my line of work, I have known a lot of people who come from broken families or have chosen to work on Christmas. They too have feelings and wished they had a perfect family, just like what they see on their Facebook feeds.
Isn't it a bit of showing off? Or just sharing the goodness of God in their lives? There are always two sides of the coin but I'm leaning towards being a showoff. Studies have shown that those who post too much on social media want to prove a point of their social status in life. There is a psychological factor that forces one to believe that the standard of society would come from likes and comments. I think it's time to debunk this kind of mindset. Christmas season is not just about the complete family or the number of gifts you have received.
It's still not too late, I guess. They say that Filipinos have the longest Christmas season. Up until January we still celebrate the season, give gifts and attend get-togethers. As usual, it will all end up on social media. We can all check our motives, why we want to publicly share what we are up to and where we are. It will reflect our personalities and what we are as a person. But is this really that important? Rather than doing actions? It's time to reevaluate our intentions.
I'm wishing everyone a belated Merry Christmas. I bet we have had a meaningful eve and the whole day to celebrate. But let us not forget that there are those who have not been blessed as you are. So share, and let others feel that they also have a place in this world. Most of all, the season is about forgiveness and setting pure intentions so we may have a world full of peace. This is the jolly season to refresh our hearts ready for the New Year to come.