You Can’t Stop Christmas from Coming- the psychology of the Grinch and others!
What does your generation want for Christmas?
Trending - In 2025, Baby Boomers want ,most of all - to prioritize health & wellness; experience Multi-generational travel and feel comfort and nostalgia;
GenX wants most of all to real life experiences, fluid, generation blending clothing and “posting zero “- less public info on social media in favor of private or real life interactions;
Millenials are attached to all things tech for purchases, but are looking for experiences over material goods. They are looking for financial stability and greater flexibility in work-life balance and are big consumers of podcasts..
HOLD ON- Isn’t this the time of year we are wrapped in nostalgia- even gritty, not so nice nostalgia?
Fairy Tales and Evil Characters
We are all very familiar with the dark character of the Grinch, a Dr. Seuss Classic tale since it was first introduced to the world in 1957. The whole idea of stealing Christmas away from the masses certainly struck fear in my child size heart….much like the Wicked Witch of the West did in the
“Wizard of Oz.”
The witch realizes that Dorothy’s ruby slippers can be removed only if Dorothy dies, so she makes her plan…. but ultimately, it is the witch’s death when water is splashed on her and she melts! Sweet, accidental revenge.
Another greedy, wicked character that frightened me to death was the volatile Cruella de Vil, of 101 Dalmatians. She is a wealthy heiress married to a furrier. She treated all people and animals abusively and seeks to acquire them for her own malicious pleasure. She kidnaps nearly all of these rambunctious pets, for she falsely believes she can convert them to valuable coats.
How did baby boomers ever make it to 2025 with “such vile models” in our childhood experience?
I can only believe that there is a backstory and multiple messages in every tale from which we can learn. Psychologically, perhaps these meanies are our conscience, designed to warn us thatif we act as they do, harm will come to us with negative consequences and to others as well. But wait… these are fairy tales after all, with happy endings. Isn’t it true that Christmas came in Who-vile in spite of the Grinch even with his change of heart? Dorothy can return to Kansas by clicking the heels of her ruby slippers and repeating, “There’s No Place Like Home.”
After wild chase scenes by Cruella and her crooked accomplices, the trio end up crashing their vehicles and land in a deep ravine, utterly defeated with the dalmations returning to their loving humans!
A Closer Look at the Grinch
The narcissistic character named Grinch sees what he can’t have in the very modest village of Who-ville, (i.e.ultimately a happy community that operates with joy without material goods.) He has a wonderful awful idea
trying to stop Christmas from coming after 53 years of witnessing joy. He sets out to impersonate Santa and his reindeer. (How gullible we were along with Cindy- Lou who to think that this skinny, ugly green character
and his scrawny dog Max would EVER be the real Santa.) But, I guess if you’re half asleep and interrupt a thief in costume, and expecting only one visitor in the middle of the night it must be the real Santa! LOL
Arriving with empty sacks he begins to rid all households of every sign of Christmas festivity- packages, wrappings, bicycles, trees, lights, and all food in the refrigerator...and even a crumb that was too small for a mouse!
He was of so wrong that being stripped of earthly goods would crush their Christmas spirit. He wanted to hear crying, despair and feel like “King of the World” ( Not unlike our current President!)
But it didn’t happen! Why? Because, Christmas and its spirit, (whether you have religious or spiritual leanings) is really internal, in one’s heart and has very little to do with commercialism or material goods!
The Turning Point
He was puzzled…. It came without ribbons! It came without tags!"
"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought,"doesn't come from a store.”
"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"
And what happened then? Well...in Whoville they say,
That the Grinch's small heart Grew three sizes that day!
And the minute his heart didn't feel quite so tight,
He whizzed with his load through the bright morning light,
And he brought back the toys! And the food for the feast! And he, HE HIMSELF! The Grinch carved the roast beast!
Unconditional hope, remorse, joy and the sense of coming together as a family! The Grinch and his selfish ways were resurrected to be a part of a community that stood tall even when Christmas was stolen!
For Survivors of Crime During the Holidays
It surely is no fairy tale when you join the ranks of crime victims!
How I wish there was a storybook in which homicide, missing persons, intimate partner-family violence, human trafficking, sexual assault-rape, suicide and other tragedies were told from the perspective of the victim and
their family, with barely a mention the perpetrator. The story would relate how despite incredible courage and effort, they persevere without their loved one and personal losses.
‘How they rebuild their lives minute by minute with the support of others who know from personal experience.
Should no resolution to their story be in sight, at least, they can begin to re-write the next chapter with the knowledge that they have already travelled the worst path imaginable! They can, with help come to the
crossroads and chose the path they will walk in the future!
Continuing Coping and Fostering Hope-
I think homicide prepares you for the best in life, for you've already lived through the worst ever! Read about how to cope and chose the path of hope and preparing for Victim Impact Statements with these two books!
PURCHASE HERE- 1) https://donnagore.com/store/p/survinglossbyhomicide;
2)https://donnagore.com/store/p/victimimpactstatements
Thank you! Donna
