Bah, Humbug? Or...Something Better...

Uncategorized Dec 14, 2025

🎄 Bah, Humbug??? Or… Something Better?

Let me start with a confession.

👉 My current wife, Riesah, and I don’t celebrate Christmas.
But my ex-wife and I did. And for the most part, it was pretty good.

Except…for the annual trek across the mountains to spend Christmas with her family.
You know the one — icy roads, packed car, emotional expectations riding shotgun.

And that’s where today’s story begins...

🍽️ A Christmas Dinner… Without Turkey

The very first night I met her extended family was Christmas dinner.

Picture this:

A beautifully decorated table
About a dozen people squeezed in
All the classic holiday sides you can imagine

And right in the centre…

👉 A massive ham.

No turkey.

I leaned over and whispered something to my ex.

She did not whisper back.

“Ham?! Herky doesn’t eat ham — he’s Jewish!”

😳😳😳

😬 When Silence Is Louder Than Christmas Carols

The look on her aunt’s face?

Priceless.

Pure horror. Deep embarrassment. Full-on internal panic.

Apologies came flying. The room went dead quiet.
The youngins around the table? Absolutely losing it.

Then came the question:

“Oh my goodness… what can I get you instead?”

Trying not to laugh, I assured her I’d “find something kosher at a grocery store.”

Now… we were in small-town BC, so we all knew that wasn’t happening — but the moment was too good to ruin.

I started putting my jacket on.

And then…

My ex finally cracked.

“Okay, okay… yes, he’s Jewish.
But he LOVES pork.”

🤣

We hammed it up for the rest of the night.

🎁 When Christmas Got… Expensive

We had many Christmases after that — always with her family.

And one year, I hit my limit.

Not emotionally.
💸 Financially.

The gifts. The pressure. The spending.
It just didn’t sit right anymore.

So I pitched an idea.

Instead of buying gifts for each other…

👉 What if we pooled the money?
👉 And gave a “Spirit of Christmas” award to a deserving high school student?

Someone who showed:

Kindness
Leadership
Generosity
Community spirit

Everything I wish that mattered more than gift receipts.

They loved it.

And we did it for years.

🤔 So… What About Your Christmas?

Let me ask you something.

How are you really feeling about Christmas this year?

🎄 Excited?
😬 Anxious?
😵‍💫 Stressed?
😑 Just over it?

If this season comes with pressure instead of peace, here are a few questions worth sitting with:

👉 What could you do differently this year?
👉 What expectations could you let go of?
👉 Does your family really need all those gifts… and all that food?
👉 How could you create something meaningful instead of just expensive?

✨ A Different Kind of Christmas Cheer

Christmas doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s version.

It can be quieter.
Simpler.
More intentional.

Or maybe even… a little unconventional.

(And yes — possibly involving ham.)

🎄 Final Thought

However you celebrate — or don’t — I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas, filled with humour, connection, and whatever meaning looks like for you this year.

👉 Call to Action

💬 I’d love to hear from you:
What’s one tradition you’d be willing to rethink this Christmas?

If this blog struck a chord, share it with someone who might need permission to do Christmas their way.

And if you’re ready to bring more intention, clarity, and humanity into how you lead — let’s talk.