My Holiday joy is being undermined

It's the Holiday season and i'm doing my best to try and get into the spirit by watching various Holiday specials, many from my childhood. However, for the last two years (starting at 2011), my attempts to get into these holiday specials have been thwarted by the thoughts of my own mile-a-minute brain. Hanukkah ends on the 16th and i've only watched a Hanukkah special once.

When people think of the holidays, in addition to presents, trees and snow, they often think of Magic, Hope, faith, generosity and kindness. But whenever i watch holiday specials that put emphasis on the following things, my brain ruins it by making think about something that not only undercuts the ideals of X-mas, but also has nothing to do with Christmas at all.

If i think about Magic, Hope and Faith, i'm haunted by thoughts of tv/movie characters being chastised for believing in such things, and another character saying things like "Grow Up", which, lets face it, is offensive in its own right (E.G. Stuart Little's comments regarding Fairy Tales, and some one saying reality, Real world or real life)

If i think about generosity and kindness, i'm haunted by thoughts of the following ideals being unrewarded and/or just having no place in the real world, or a good deed simply having terrible consequences (E.G. a character helping someone, but then they turn on them)

All of this is driving me mad.

I think you're in the wrong board.

I am terribly sorry you feel that way, but I think might be right. Perhaps these feelings are the sign of a larger issue, and I suggest you talk this over someone you trust/care about. If all else fails, just try to avoid the cynical stuff and watch some classics like Charlie Brown, Frosty and Rudolph I guess.

EDIT: Having seen your posting history, this thought pattern appears to be an issue of yours. Being tormented by repetitive thoughts that you feel are out of your control is probably something you should talk over with a loved one or a counselor. If these thoughts and feelings continue and make it difficult for you to enjoy daily life, I would strongly suggest that you seek counseling. I'm not a doctor, nor am I qualified to diagnose a psychological issue, but I do think this is something you should talk to someone trustworthy about.

edited 13th Dec '12 7:45:59 PM by MobileLeprechaun

Watching Xmas specials on TV has also been a major part of my Holiday experience every year, but lately they just don't seem to be coming up with any good ones. That includes the Xmas episodes of regular series. Maybe we are living in times too cynical to "get" the Christmas Spirit right? Or is it just me?

Sometimes, you have to go to the kiddie stuff to get anything that's not too cynical. A Very Berry Christmas from Strawberry Shortcake is quite good, and somewhat surprisingly, so is Caillou's Holiday Movie. Arthur's Perfect Christmas has just a tad of cynicism, but it's really pretty good too. All of those are at least a few years old, though. There's also Holly Hobbie: Christmas Wishes, which is really very tender and sweet, and has some religious aspects not found in most holiday specials these days, and actually does it quite well, whether or not you're religious.

Oh, and I almost forgot - Toot and Puddle: I'll Be Home for Christmas. This is a very good special that even teaches a bit of Scottish and is very genuine and not so much a trace of cynicism.

And while I'm at it, there's also The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Christmas, which was just released this year.

edited 18th Dec '12 5:10:21 PM by JMQwilleran