Oh, the weather outside is frightful, exams will not be delightful, and since it’s the last Tuesday to go, let it Snow, let it Snow, let it Snow.

It’s not always easy to look happy when it’s wet and cold outside and exams are right around the corner. At least it’s the last week of classes.

With all the lecture notes and textbook phrases floating in your head and snow blowing around your face, can you feel the Christmas spirit in your bones? Do your feet tingle and your mouth smile when you see the downtown street decorations, hear the music in the shops and make out your Christmas list?

If you don’t, then maybe it’s too early to get into the season. You haven’t had time to start being jolly and spreading good cheer because right now you feel like a study robot and laughing would crack your tin. But just maybe you have lost a little too much of the kid in you.

Remember how great it was when you were in grade school and you magically knew every kid on the block?

The hours would fly by as you did silly things—like explore nearby creeks, make faces at people driving by, have snow fights, play ding-dong ditch and smear the queer, build Barbie doll mansions on top of a pool table and throw rocks at windows.

If you wanted to hang out, all you had to do was go outside and there would be kids somewhere or call up your best bud and ask “wanna go out and play?”

Having fun was so simple then. You didn’t care if all there was to do on a rainy day was play Pac Man for hours.

Now it’s college time, and for some people family time. We have more responsibilities than making our bed for a quarter or putting our toys in a cardboard box.

Our bodies are bigger, our brains have expanded with knowledge and our outlooks on life have changed tremendously. Some of us have left too much of our childlike qualities behind as we’ve grown up.

It’s harder to meet people now—everyone isn’t as easygoing as they were when they were kids. You can live in a new town and not meet your neighbors for weeks. And it’s not as simple to find something to do because our interests have changed.

The Christmas season reminds us to be loving and giving to people. It’s a kick in the butt that tells us to think about others when we might be wrapped up too much in our own lives

Sure, the presents you get now—like sweaters and car floor mats—aren’t as fun as all the toys you anxiously unwrapped when you were a little tyke. But it’s still a great holiday.

Maybe some of us grow less friendly through the years because we realize how many scary people are in the world and how sad society can be.

Or maybe it’s because we gain more responsibilities that looking past our own schedule is not one of our biggest priorities.

Try to relax amongst all the turmoil and rid yourself of stuffy adult qualities before it’s too late. We can’t stay kids forever, but we can try to be full of the friendliness and spontaneity of days long gone.

Keep the spirit alive after the season’s gone. But for now, when you’re gathered with some relatives, try livening up the place with a little carol—maybe something like “jingle bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg.”

Have a great time over Christmas break and next semester. Thanks for tuning in on Tuesdays!