Magic.

Today we took the girls to watch The Polar Express.

As I watched the parents file in with their kids, and the kids’ faces during the movie, and answered the flow of questions that came from my 5 year old during the movie, I thought about how cool life is.

Most certainly, the lore of Christmas is steeped in tradition and religion for many in the world, but there are also many who don’t necessarily use either of those things as their North Star.  However, regardless of one’s spiritual leaning, it would appear that the vast majority of adults go out of their way to perpetuate the idea of Magic during the holiday season.  Why do we do this?  What evolutionary advantage does it serve us humans to encourage our offspring to believe in Santa?

The cynics in my life might argue that it serves us by making sure the economy doesn’t tank in the dead of winter (haha, you two know who you are), but I’m hopeful that there just might be a little more to it.  I think that believing in Magic, believing in things you can not see, allowing yourself to make believe  serves to keep our hearts and minds afire with the possibility of much more.

When you put those cookies out, and tip toe around in the dark hours of the night, and read stories, and move elves, you are teaching your kids about Magic.  You are teaching them that their imaginations are important.  You are allowing them to feel that flutter in their heart that signals to them that something other worldly just might be going on today and that that is real and awesome.  You are letting their minds wander and dream and, most importantly, expand.

So thank you so much for doing that.  This world needs humans that believe in things they haven’t seen before and that have the desire to go out there and make those things happen.

And don’t forget, once you do all your duties tonight, to let your own heart flutter, to feel the Magic in the air, and don’t feel sheepish if you find yourself listening for those bells overnight …..

Peace and love to you all.