It’s a Wonderful Life – Just Hang in There!

by Tom Salatto

            I haven’t watched “It’s a Wonderful Life” yet this year; if I watch it too early I lose the message by Christmas. It’s something that has to be watched after all the gifts are bought and the wife tells you how much debt you owe. Anytime sooner and you end up throwing the tape into the garbage.

            Life is very tough, especially when you have no money for Christmas and you still have gifts to buy. Money wasted, senseless debt. I can remember a world – far back in time – when family was happy just to spend time with you on Christmas…

            “I’m sorry, Nonnie, I couldn’t afford anything more than this.”

            “Stop being stupid!,” she’d shout for the other 40 guests to hear. “I just wanted you with me this Christmas. Come here…” and with that this five foot elderly women would lock you in a bear hug and lift you off the ground.

            But that’s another article. My point here is that as we move closer to Christmas (especially this year) we get depressed. We may see that we’ve worked so hard all year and still have nothing to share. Or maybe we won’t go to our friend’s Christmas bash because we can’t afford the gifts, nor even the beer and snacks. We also know full well that we can’t pay for all those gifts the kids “need”, but to disappoint them on Christmas would be horrible.

            You want to make everyone happy, including yourself. You’ve had a rough year with this economy, and there’s definitely no money to go to Manhattan to experience real Christmas Cheer, or get your wife the necklace she’d like (that makes me laugh too…what man has a “Secret Bank account” that he can withdraw $5000 for a necklace without the wife knowing about it? If you have that account, I want very badly to be your bestest friend ever! email me at tsalatto@comcast.net!).

            So by December 20 depression broils Red Hot, and I put the DVD in. I won’t explain the plot to you because if you haven’t seen it yet I have to wonder what planet you’re visiting from, and can you take me back, please!

            George Bailey has his world fall apart, financially, and he realizes he’s never done anything HE”S wanted to do (sound familiar?). Then, when George is at the point of ending his life, an Angel appears and shows the depressed hero that he’s really made a difference in the world. George’s world looked dismal because George could see only the problems, and was blind to all the good he’d done.

            At this point in the film I cry a little manly tear. Or even a big not-so-manly snot-filled bawl! Because I, too, lose sight of how hard I’ve tried, of all the good I’ve shared on a daily basis, of how blessed my loved ones are to have me. As crappy as I feel about the world and my place in it from time to time, I have a wonderful life.

            I know I’ll struggle, but does the struggle have to blind me to my family who will all gather this Christmas, or to those who surround me every day with love? I know we’ll always have debt, but should I let it ruin a joyous opportunity to share a holiday with my wife and kids and friends? Never. I shouldn’t let it ruin even one day out of the year. George Bailey’s real lesson was that his loved ones didn’t care about his ability to make money, or that he never had the opportunity to become a rock star. They loved HIM, and needed him.

            I pull the DVD. Suddenly, all the stress leaves my body. I’ve done all I could this year; it’s not the gift but the thought. No man struggles as hard as does a Family man (or Woman). Don’t beat yourself up! Did you leave one stone unturned to make them a bit happier? Of course not. You and your wife are good people. Don’t let the obsession with the struggle blind you to all you’ve accomplished. You may have less gifts under the tree this year, but it’s not for lack of effort. And in that effort you’ve shown everyone your love.

            That’s all that’s really important in this Wonderful Life. If you had a dollar for every minute of effort you’d be a millionaire many times over; but it doesn’t work like that. However, you’ve shared riches in your Effort that no money could buy. Enjoy those riches this holiday. See the true life you have. It’s really wonderful!