Commentary: The Holiday Spirit Is About Making A Meaningful Connection

Sitting at a Starbucks, writing my final case study before winter break, I was reminded recently about the true meaning of humanity and the holiday season.

I was nestled up next to the fireplace, enjoying my coffee, typing away and in my own world. Next to me was a man with special needs accompanied by another man. We sat next to each other for about 10 minutes with no interactions either between the three of us or the two of them.

Minutes later, an older man walked in. The man with special needs seemed to be drawn to him and reached out his hand to him. I assumed they knew each other and were meeting here. However, after the older man sat away from us after getting his coffee, it became clear they didn’t know each other.

The man with special needs kept looking at the older man, so the older man decided to come join the pair while the man with special needs typed on his tablet a message for the man. He wrote, simply, “Merry Christmas.”

That two-word message sparked an hour-long conversation among strangers.

Sitting there sipping my coffee and attempting to finish my paper, I couldn’t help but eavesdrop. I learned about their lives, their favorite stories, their families, how one of them starts his day at 3 a.m. (yes, 3 in the morning), and the pieces of wisdom they shared with one another.

Looking around the coffee shop, I noted how so many others were immersed in their technology, succumbed by the stress of finals, or were working away with their heads down and their headphones in. But these three men, who were all silently in their own worlds before, had become acquainted after a simple “Merry Christmas.” Their afternoon was now filled with laughter and sharing pictures and stories with strangers. They even got each others’ numbers and made plans to go ice fishing.

It seems we all get so caught up in our responsibilities or are worried about chatting with others that we miss out on what this life is really about: love, kindness, and making genuine connections with people.

Many turn away from strangers or people who may seem to be different from them. But these three men — different in age, abilities, and walks of life — found so much in common and so much to bond about.

So this holiday season, I encourage you all to take a step away from the devices and stress in your life and simply say, “merry Christmas” or “happy holidays” to someone. You never know the kind of connections you may find.

Rachel Brown is a senior studying journalism at the University of Minnesota in Duluth.