Do you ever find yourself struggling to find the perfect combination of words to communicate how you feel about that special person in your life? Whether it is a significant other, best friend, coworker or relative, there is no better place to seek advice than the master of the metaphor- Leslie Knope. The Ann in your life deserves a Knope-worthy compliment, so take advice from the queen herself.
Below are some of the most things someone should have on their Christmas to-do lists!
Gingerbread, gingersnap, sugar cookies, snickerdoodles, it doesn't matter! Baking some sort of Christmas dessert cookies should definitely be on your lists.
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Walking into a dimly lit room, fire place on, and a holiday scent in the air is one of the best feelings in the world. Yankee Candle Company, Kringle Candle Company, Home Goods, and Bath & Body Works all have a wide variety of candles spanning over many seasonal settings.
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This is one thing I have yet to do, but it is one of the first items on my to-do list. For many people they may think, "There are no ice rinks around me, I live in (insert hot Southern State)." But fear not! You may be surprised by a simple Google search to see an ice rink relatively close to you.
You may have to drive a little bit, but it's worth it! Being able to see the snow in all of it's glory can make your winter experience ten-times as fun! Be sure to wear proper footwear though - cold, wet feet are no fun.
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One of my best memories around Christmas time is being able to decorate the tree with my parents and brothers. There is just something so nice about being able to create something together and as festive as the Christmas tree to give you that warm, fuzzy feeling inside.
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It is important to remember that Christmas is also about giving, not just receiving. Taking time to give back to your community can really make you appreciate your own blessings in life. Not only that, serving the disadvantaged and bringing some joy into their lives is just another way to spread the Christmas spirit.
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Novelty shops are great because unlike other stores, these are just for fun! It is unwinding to go shopping to look at fun little crafts and toys. Who know's maybe you'll find the perfect Christmas gift for someone there?
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You will have the most fun at a Christmas parade, I promise you. Going with friends and family is a sure way to hype you all up for the coming holiday season! Get some Christmas sweaters, ugly hats, and just roll with it!
This truly is one of the best times of the year, and it is up to us to make the most of it. Although all of these listed activities are sure ways to make your holidays bright, there is always something more important: Spending time with your family and loved ones. Yes, the holidays are about the Christmas spirit, the caroling, the sleigh rides, and the fruitcake. But more importantly, they are about the time of year when we can all come together, love one another, and get ready for the New Year. Remember this and have a great holiday season!
Erika Christakis, the associate master of Silliman College, sent out an email to the community in regards to her thoughts on Halloween costumes that some people deem offensive. In her email, she writes, “…if you don’t like a costume someone is wearing, look away, or tell them you are offended. Talk to each other. Free speech and the ability to tolerate offence are the hallmarks of a free and open society.” That seems completely reasonable. It certainly is how I would handle such a situation. Apparently, Christakis broke a taboo at the Yale undergraduate community. Students surrounded the associate master’s husband, who is a sociologist, in protest, and a sophomore engaged him (Warning: Foul language). While both the reason for the protest and the crass way she engaged him were highly inappropriate, one line she said really disturbed me, “It is not about creating an intellectual space… It’s about creating a home here!”
That’s right, instead of focusing on learning, ignoring what they found offensive or even engaging in a proper debate, these students launched into a frenzy of exactly what they want to defend against: intolerance. They cared more about feeling at home and “safe.” I’m sorry, but college is not meant to be your home and it should keep you safe from things that actual cause harm, like assault, not a benign difference in opinion. Students like these are turning colleges from institutions of knowledge to institutions of fragile emotions.
Professors are slowing seeing that some students don’t care about the academic material, but rather they look to see if the material presented matches their views. One professor did not get his contract renewed because he had students read texts from Mark Twain that they saw as offensive. Mark Twain, the classic American author, whose books were read by most high school students, caused college students enough distress to report the professor. This isn’t an isolated incident. Many like it have, and continue to, come to light. One professor even wrote an anonymous article about how he fears for his job because of what he teaches. Apparently professors need to start teaching based on emotion and not intellectual value.
Another contribution to the issue are “safe spaces.” These places are meant to be where students can feel “safe” to express themselves without fear of being judged, ridiculed, etc. The main problem with that is what is “safe” to one person does not mean “safe” to another. What if I write a poem that someone may deem offensive and say it in a safe space because I feel “safe” to recite it? Then someone in that space gets offended by it, whose “safety” comes first? Safe spaces are one of the most selfish ideas on campus. When someone says they support safe spaces, they are supporting a safe space for themselves, not for everyone.
College is not for the people who need to feel protected from differing values. College is meant to be a place where differences in ideas can be exchanged in a positive manner. If you want a “safe” space or community, go back to your parents' house, not your classroom.
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