Holiday traditions are a pain. You should do them anyway.
A Christmas-related tweet sent by conservative TV personality Kat Timpf caught my eye, the other day.
“Why would you ever put up a Christmas tree?” Timpf rhetorically asked. “I mean, my family does it—but, personally, I just don’t get it. It’s just creating another mess that you’ll have to put away. To me, it’s the same as taking all of the clothes out of your dresser and decorating them with lights.”
Maybe she was just trolling us, or maybe she means it? Either way, it struck me as a teachable moment.
That’s because, almost all the traditions and practices that bring long-term joy could also be considered a pretty big pain in the tuchus.
Think about it. Making a big Thanksgiving dinner for your extended family could easily constitute “creating another mess.” Besides, relatives can be annoying. Let’s be honest, eating pizza alone is pretty awesome.
Getting my kids up on Sunday, getting them dressed, and getting them to church is likewise, a hassle. Come to think of it, the very idea of having kids is an expensive (often thankless) ordeal (which helps explain why so few of us are doing it).
If the goal is creating an easy or simple life, lots of baggage can be eliminated.
Why take dad to that annual football game when it’s cheaper to watch on TV—and the view is better? Why go to a Broadway musical when you can stay home and watch Netflix? Who needs a real fireplace when you can just put it on TV?
Becoming a utilitarian would save a lot of time and mess. At the end of it all, though, you’ll end up home alone. Sure, maybe you’ll get more work done. Maybe you’ll get a little more sleep. But for what? Will you have really lived?
So many of the things that bring us joy and meaning and community also require a lot of investment, sacrifice, and hard work.
Look, I’m not saying you have to do it all. Maybe you prefer to go hog wild on the Halloween decorations and skimp on Christmas. Or maybe you think Christmas trees are pagan. That’s fine. You don’t have to do everything.
I’m just a little worried about the person who decides to starts pruning all the childish, inefficient, magical things of this world.
Instead, we must guard the holiday spirit with our lives.
Looking for some last-minute Christmas gifts?
With Christmas around the corner, might I suggest supporting the podcast AND picking up some stocking stuffers? It’s not too late to get a copy of “Too Dumb to Fail,” a “Matt Lewis & The News mug, or a “Proud to be HUMAN SCUM” t-shirt.” Go to www.patreon.com/mattlewis today, support long-form podcast conversations, and get something for that lovable Never Trumper in your life.
Listen to the latest podcast episodes ...
Quin Hillyer on Never Trumping–and Sen. John Kennedy’s Phoniness
> Click here to listen online
Nick Gillespie on Impeachment and The War on Porn
> Click here to listen online
Daniel Darling on The Characters of Christmas
> Click here to listen online
Read my most recent Daily Beast columns...
The Five Leading GOP Excuses for Trump’s Behavior—and Why They’re All Bullshit
> Click here to read the column
How Sane and Normal Democrats Are Saving America
> Click here to read the column
Want to get new "Matt Lewis & the News" podcast episodes as soon as I post them? Subscribe to my iTunes, Google Play, or Stitcher feeds.
Please consider supporting my work on Patreon
Your support helps me produce "Matt Lewis & the News" and expand the content that I offer to subscribers like you. In addition, you'll get some awesome swag and exclusive access to special content, like mini-podcast episodes.
Yes, I want to support "Matt Lewis & the News" on Patreon