I have three words for you: Hallmark Christmas Movies.

I know they are dreadful, aren’t they? And I now love it.

Friends, there was a time when I derisively mocked other family members for their love of all things Hallmark, particularly holiday movies. The movies are trite, predictable, and far-fetched.

Take me, for example. I like Christmas, and I enjoy the holiday festivities, but I don’t start decorating and listening to Christmas music on November 1. In comparison to, say, my sisters, I am, in fact, a Grinch. They are looking for reasons to decorate before Halloween candy goes on sale.

It turned out that having Thanksgiving on a different day didn’t feel any different. The world didn’t stop spinning, a hole didn’t open up in the universe, and we not only survived but had a blast. While we had still planned on having a traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, we decided that nobody cared, and we just ate leftovers and watched movies all day. 

We do all these things and not only ignore the beams of light but actively push the light away because? It feels uncomfortable alongside the darkness.  It feels wrong to let the light in when it’s so dark. Being grateful that the sun is still rising, for the sound of laughter, for littles in Halloween costumes, and for the holiday season rapidly approaching, is the way back. Grasping for any sign of joy and happiness is not wrong; it’s our life raft.