If You Can’t Say Anything Nice… By J.E. Dean

Season’s Greetings. I hope you are in the holiday spirit. Me? I’m trying to get there. My strategy is to follow the advice (for a change) of my mother. Knowing my propensity to find fault in others, she advised me not to say anything when I couldn’t find anything nice to say about someone. 

Given the holidays, I’m not writing about you-know-who today even though, in recent weeks, he has been providing truckloads of material for columns each week. (Oops—my mom would not be pleased.)

The holidays this year have already been a blessing. We have heard from many friends, some of whom seem to contact us (and vice versa) only during the holidays. It is always good to hear from friends, old and new, and discover how they and their families are doing. I count friendships as among the best holiday gifts.

I also confess to liking snow, which is easy for me to do when I don’t have to drive in it. Snow is beautiful, as are rivers when they are frozen. A few years ago, a gaggle of more than 120 geese took temporary residence on Island Creek. I’m told they were sleeping while standing on the ice. I still cherish that memory.

Among the things that are remarkable about the season are the random acts of kindness and goodwill that I encounter. Sometimes, being the often-negative person that I am, I am surprised that people can be so empathetic, kind, thoughtful and cheerful in a world that sometimes seems upside down. I’m envious of these people and try to emulate them, remembering that goodwill is contagious. (Maybe if I hung out more with people of goodwill, I’d be a better person.)

I also like Christmas lights. Not the Clark Griswald variety—too much of a good thing is not a good thing. But the subtle decorations that I often see on houses at this time of year. I like seeing houses decorated. They remind me that there are people inside celebrating the holidays—and that there is more to life than politics, economics, and world news.

For several days last week, I watched ABC News with David Muir. I like his reporting, but I was watching because he is visiting small businesses that make and sell things made in America. Each night, a segment included some free advertising for small businesses that would never be able to reach a national audience. What is remarkable is how happy, functional, and positive the people are. 

Finally, I like reading about Christmas meccas—places like the European Christmas markets that make a special effort to become mini-Christmas-Disneylands to create a destination where entire families, can enter a wonderland of holiday gifts, foods, smells, lights, and so much more.   (Easton is becoming such a mecca and the Washington Post even reported on it.)

I will do my best to stay positive for the next few weeks and, with luck, even remain positive into the new year. On that last part, I may need some help. I’m worried about affordability (not a hoax), increases in the cost of health insurance, Venezuela and war, and a lot more. (Sorry, mom—I’ll keep trying.)

Happy Holidays.

J.E. Dean writes on politics, government, goldendoodles, and other subjects. A former counsel on Capitol Hill and public affairs consultant, Dean is an advocate for democracy, sanity, and the rule of law.