I’m Not Okay
The Grinch.
Ebenezer Scrooge.
We know their stories. Two isolated, lonely, and angry-at-the-world men see the light on Christmas as a result of some kind of ego realignment. For Scrooge, it’s a series of ghosts that scare him straight, and for The Grinch, it’s singing Who’s.
What’s convenient about these stories is that they happen right at Christmas, in the darkest hours before dawn. The guys come to their senses when they need it most. They repent, then rejoice. Though not quite Hallmark-esque, these tales are pat and predictable, and they serve as reminders to quit moping around and join in the goddamned fun.
What these stories brush over is the why. Why did the Grinch and Scrooge become so Grinchy and Scrooge-y? Because they were living in a society that didn’t accept them, and their only mechanism for survival was to stuff their sorrow and shame deep inside of themselves for the better part of their lives.
These stories take place at Christmas because said society wants the Grinches and Scrooges of the world to get on board when the love is at its peak. But does it have to be at Christmastime?
I say nay. Give the Grinch and Scrooge their time. Their ah-ha moments may happen at a different time. Perhaps they need to be in a calm state of mind. Perhaps they need all the bells and whistles and ribbons and wrapping to go away before they can say, “I’m not okay.”
And whether it’s 19th century London or Whoville, or just your very own home, can society actually mean it when they say: it’s okay to not be okay, especially at this time of year?
That’s my hope.
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This Post is republished on Medium.
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Photo credit: Unsplash