Well, it's here again. The Christmas Season.

What's a cynic to do? What I always do, hope people are nicer to each other.

It hasn't worked out yet.

I disregard all religious beliefs, since they're divisive.

I do what I always do and hope.

Sadly, actions speak louder than words. People are more harried, more stressed and generally harder on the help.

The "help" being me, their bartender.

I love what this time is supposed to be and disdain what it is.

A gimme fest.

Gimme this and gimme that. Spoiled are we.

I'm spoiled too, I just try and tone it down a notch.

As a bartender I do my best to be polite and raise people's spirits. I get my spirit beaten down trying. I fail and can be just as rude, and then feel guilty for not rising above the fray.

I will try to rise above the fray again this year. Its a modest goal, maybe even attainable. We shall see.

May we all try and be of good spirit. For me this is non-religious, its about humans being better to one another.

It's not about what you get, it's about what you give.

I'm going to try and remember that.

j