December 10, 2025
My bar for holiday cheer is low. Shockingly low. Embarrassingly low. I am not proud of this, but at this point I have accepted it. If someone wishes me a good day with even a hint of extra warmth in their voice, my brain immediately goes, “Wow look at that festive human being.” If a stranger lets me merge without turning it into a duel to the death, that counts as holiday cheer. If a kid sings a half correct version of Jingle Bells in the cereal aisle, that is basically a Hallmark movie moment.
The truth is, December stretches people thin in ways no one really talks about. Schedules tighten. Expectations multiply. Everyone suddenly remembers twenty seven things they meant to do earlier in the year and decides now is the perfect time. We are all walking around trying to look like functioning adults while our internal batteries blink red.
So when someone gives even a tiny scrap of kindness, it feels huge.
That is the wild part. The things that count as holiday cheer for me are not theatrical gestures. They are tiny cues that someone remembered they are human and the person in front of them is human too. A held door. A patient cashier. A driver who doesn’t accelerate when they clearly see your turn signal. A neighbor who waves instead of pretending they didn’t make eye contact.
I think that is why my bar stays low. It leaves more room for small joys to sneak in. And honestly, the world feels a little more generous when you let the simple things count.
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💬 Your Turn
So… what is the bare minimum someone has to do for you to count it as holiday cheer?
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