Comment: Ephemeral Joy

We took down the Christmas tree and its attendant lights today, and the room seems empty without them. What is it about Christmas lights that bring so much joy? Is it because they are only up for a time, and hence, temporary? Would we just get used to them if they were up all the time, like we get used to seeing clouds in the sky and birds in the trees? Probably.

So we enjoy them while they are up for a short time, and then we pack them away in a box and wait for eleven months to put them up again.

Delayed gratification.

We are not wired for that. Which is why we spend so much time trying to feel more alive and, well, gratified. We can’t wait for the feel good moment, it must be now.

But what about anticipation? That is, in some ways, sweeter than the actual execution of events. Thinking about good things to come, looking forward to something, these are among the greatest joys of life. Our expectations may be skewed, but it doesn’t matter; for the time BEFORE a positive event, we can just love that it’s coming up, and enjoy the fact that it’s before us, not behind.

So is the joy in life only in the anticipation? It can’t be, because we certainly enjoy things as they happen at least some of the time, even in our sped-up-hyper-multitasking-gadget(crack)filled lifestyle. We enjoy moments, albeit few and far between the distraction of our daily lives.

But back to the Christmas lights; they conjure nice memories for me, sure, of riding around in the back seat of our car looking at the really cool displays. But they also just remind me that there’s only a small part of the year when they’re around, so I ought to enjoy them while I can. Regardless of your personal/spiritual persuasion, little bright multi-colored lights are fun. And many religions do celebrations of light of one form or another in December.

What’s my point? My point is I love Christmas lights, but I only miss them because they’re up a fraction of a time. Waiting makes me love them. And taking them down leaves me a little sad, a little empty. But it also means there’s another chance to see them in less than a year.