Run Sheet
00/11/20
The subject of wish lists came up on Johndoe mail the other day and whether or not they should be posted. I have nothing against them, here's mine.
My wish list:
1) I wish that each of you find the courage inside yourselves to stand up and oppose intolerance. Just once I'd like to NOT be the person who speaks up first. I'd like someone else to be the guy who doesn't listen silently and uncomfortably when another person tells a racist, sexist, or homophobic joke. For once I'd like other people to speak up first and say "Just a minute, I really don't want to hear that shit" If you want to give me a gift then next time you hear someone start in with some of that crap, give me the gift of saying "Hey, I don't want to hear it" you'll be surprised at how many people around you agree but wouldn't have taken the step to speak up. Remember, silence is acceptance.
2) I wish that instead of buying someone another thing for Xmas, you donate money to a charity in their name.If you can't afford money volunteer some of your time to an organization. A few years ago I was trying to come up with a christmas gift for my brother, (the hardest person in the world to buy for) and I thought "Hey, he doesn't need anything, and neither do I, so I'm gonna give some money to the local food bank in his name, and ask him to give me the same thing" I give the money in June when the food bank is at its leanest time. I give him the receipt so he can claim it on his income tax, and he gives me the same. It works out just fine. My wish is that instead of buying more crap for people who don't need more crap, look at the people that you buy for and give them a card with love and caring written inside it and tell them that you donated something to others in their name, it might inspire them to do the same.
3) I wish that once a day you take the opportunity to make someone laugh. If only a chuckle. Don't look at someone who's obviously having a rough day and say "C'mon, smile!" (you might gaer a punch in the yap for your trouble). Share a moment with them and help them to laugh a bit. It won't fix their problems or turn their life around, but it will make that moment a bit better, it also might be the one bright spot in their day.
4) I wish that if you can't afford to buy things, or donate things for Xmas, give people a letter, a card or a note telling them honestly how you feel about them. It costs nothing and will be more precious than gold to someone. My wish is that if you give this, that you understand how valuable it is and not be fooled by all the Xmas hype about expensive gifts
5) I wish that this year, when you hear people say "Christmas is too commercial" that you remember to say "No it's not, too may people are trying to make it commercial, but it's up to us to decide if it isor not. The TV doesn't rule our lives"
6) I wish that on Christmas eve you find a place outside, build a fire with some close friends and have a weenie roast at night. I've done this for years in my back yard. It's wonderful.
7) I wish that each of you find a moment to thank one of the people who work on Xmas. I also wish you would all check the batteries in your smoke detectors so that those of us who do work on Xmas will find you alive if we come visiting.
8) I wish that each of you find a moment to look honestly at your attitudes and try to find something to change that will help everyone. Light a candle to chase the darkness from the corners of our world.
9) I wish that you would all stop for a moment at least once in the next year to look at a sunrise, and a sunset, the stars at night, hold someone's hand, cheer for the good guy, stand up to a bully, and pat a dog.
10) I wish that in the next year that you remember that no matter what TV or the media says to the contrary, the vast majority of the people you pass on the street every day are good, trustworthy people, people who will do the right and the good if given the chance. The jerks are a minority no matter how vocal they are.
11) I wish that this year you allow yourself to believe in Santa Claus.
12) Finally, I wish that this Xmas
you would all look at the people in your lives and find one person who
ncan only be forgiven by you. search inside yourselves, dig deep within
your hearts and forgive them. I don't mean just say the words but go inside
yourselves and grab the roots of that resentment and pull them out, shake
the dirt off of them and look closely at the plant, see where it's vines
have crept and what beautiful things they have choked. Forgive that person,
whether they are alive or dead and tell them to their face. I'm not a fool,
I know there are some things that can't be forgiven, but there are some
things that can. Don't waste your time.
~Bryant