This feeling of excitement about the yuletide season and what is represents that has been all bubbling inside of me was shaken away today. I wish my words are perfect enough to describe how angry I am and how disconnected I'm feeling from the whole excitement of Christmas. Don't be sad or surprised for me because as the title of this article states, I'm not sure if it's Christmas we're celebrating or its a means of extorting one another.

We all know that this year in particular has been a trying one with the pandemic hitting the world and leaving an unmistakeable mark on the economy. As if that was not enough, it reinforced itself and came back in waves.

Lives were lost and jobs were lost too, people struggled to get by, for all we know, some people are still struggling. All of this effects on mankind is no news to us, as some of us had first hand experiences while others saw with their eyes from the news and television.

I know you might be wondering why I'm saying all this, I'm just trying to point out that in a year that probably has more deaths recorded worldwide, you and I are alive and we're here celebrating christmas. Its really worth celebrating in a grand style if we would just let ourselves. Yes I'm serious, if we would just let ourselves!

I went through an annoying ordeal today that's why I think that we are the problem of ourselves and by we I mean man in general. Before I continue, let me ask you this question, what does christmas mean to you? I think we all have flawed meanings of the term Christmas. Not that I'm saying my definition is the correct one but it is definitely not about what I experienced today

My experience

So I went to my elder sister's house to see her and the kids and to buy the kids Christmas packages like the big aunt that I am🤗.

Her house is quite far and requires three different vehicles to get there. The first vehicle I entered had the price increased to double the usual amount and I just shook my head but still I entered. On entering the second vehicle, same thing happened and the third vehicle that took me to my sister's place still had their price altered to twice the usual amount.

Although I was disappointed at how they were hiking prices for no reason, this seeming disappointment was short lived cos the kids saw me and ran out to embrace me, screaming on top of their voices in excitement and that calmed me and erased every thought of how much I had spent on transport because at that moment it was worth it.

The time spent with my sis, her husband and kids were awesome, but the time for me to leave came and after a lot of promises of coming to see them soon, I left. On getting to the first entry point, the driver told me the price which was the same price I had In mind even though it was still doubled. What surprised me was when I got to the next point of entering a bus. To my greatest surprise, it was now four times the usual price.

What!! Was the first statement that came out of my mouth. What has changed? I asked the driver. Its the same road, no traffic jam, not increment in fuel price, so why the unreasonable hike? His reply was what shocked me the most, he replied and said, "Christmas is what is happening".

We had no choice but to get on the bus and take our seats because all other buses were all carrying passengers at the same rate, which means all of this price increment was pre planned for christmas.

Most people found nothing wrong with this development cos according to them Christmas was once in a year, so now was their chance to reap all benefits they could get.

To what end really, its not like they would make enough money today to last them a lifetime, or that they could save it up forever,it was bound to still get exhausted.

Passengers were treated like trash today as they would not hesitate to insult you, if you even tried arguing with them.

So not Christmas at all

This is definitely not what Christmas is all about. Where is the love, joy, peace, happiness and good tidings? I guess these are for the 25th alone. So sad! After all of this attitude that we have displayed today, tomorrow we now want to cook and share about to friends and neighbors, all in the name of showing love. Its just pure hypocrisy if you ask me.

Writing about my ordeal today is somehow reawakening the anger I was feeling inside of me earlier, how I wished I could have sensitized them all but it would have been like a sheep against a pack of wolves. I didn't stand a chance. I can only hope that it gets better.

Writer's Epilogue

In conclusion of this whole episode, I think even if what we want to embark on or maybe what we are doing presently, will benefits our pockets, we should also try to consider the impact it will have or that it already has on the people around us and society at large. Making the world a better place is your responsibility and mine.

I hope your christmas celebration goes unhitched! Don't forget to save some food for me too.

Thank you for reading and merry Christmas!

Mhizrutty the voice of truth🎵🎶🎵