Worth
Richardson - Editorial Columnist | Posted: Wednesday, December 22, 2010 12:00
am
Every
Christmas we are bombarded with a variety of stories encouraging all the
positives of which humans are capable.
Rudolph
shows us it’s OK to be different. Santa Claus reminds us of the good in people
and the hope that such goodness brings. And the Grinch reminds us that people
can always change for the better.
But
perhaps the most inspirational and all-encompassing Christmas character is
Buddy the Elf.
Yes,
Buddy the Elf — the lovable human raised by elves at the North Pole, so
poignantly portrayed by Will Ferrel — is good for more than just laughs. Buddy
is often renown for his comedic value, but a close analysis of his actions and
quotes serves as a Christmas reminder about how to live life.
“I
just like to smile! Smiling is my favorite.”
With
these words of wisdom, Buddy reminds us to be happy and show it. Smiling is
contagious. So often we forget to enjoy life, and our body language shows it.
Everyone’s day is filled with ups and downs, and being able to smile through it
all is an important talent many of us forget to try. A recent study showed the
average man only smiles eight times a day. Buddy the Elf smiles more, and I’d
imagine Buddy went through the day happier and making others happy as well.
“Deb,
you have such a pretty face. You should be on a Christmas card.”
If
someone told a co-worker something like this, there would be a fair bit of
social awkwardness and possibly an e-mail to human resources. No one unabashedly
throws out compliments anymore. We have become desensitized to complimenting or
being complimented. Now compliments are viewed as a political ploy or a
romantic advance. Buddy the Elf simply can’t contain his want to tell people
all the positives about them. Just think of how happy everyone would be if
everyone complimented every positive attribute they saw in people.
“First
we’ll make snow angels for two hours, then we’ll go ice skating, then we’ll eat
a whole roll of Tollhouse cookie dough as fast as we can, and then we’ll
snuggle.”
Who
wouldn’t want to spend a cold winter night doing what Buddy suggests? The world
we live in so often pressures us to do what we are expected to do. We sacrifice
time with our family for work or the community. While working is important, we
must use Buddy as an example and do those things in life that make us happy.
Buddy
the Elf is the perfect Christmas character to remind us about getting back to
the basics of human happiness. Our modern world is great in so many ways, but
sometimes the simplest means of happiness are forgotten.
Not
only does Buddy remind us to be positive and enjoy everything in life, he
reminds us that positivity is contagious. This Christmas season and every day
thereafter, ask yourself: “What Would Buddy the Elf do?”
Richardson’s
column runs each Wednesday. He teaches career and technical education at EVHS.
E-mail dwrich27@msn.com
Wishing you health, joy, wisdom, and the spirit of Christmas!
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