Last year Alabama football coach Nick Saban was asked by a network sideline reporter what he planned to say to his undefeated team during half-time after they had played a terrible first-half and were down a touchdown. He replied, “Well, actually I don’t know. Right now, I’m just trying to be nice to you.”
“Just trying to be nice…” That’s an honest statement. There are times when it’s anything but easy to act that way.
What Saban said has stayed with me since I heard him say it, and I’ve decided to make being nice my Christmas wish this year.
Given all that’s going on, it won’t be easy. In fact, if Santa knows my thoughts, feelings, and on occasion my words about and to the unvaccinated, truth deniers and liars, Republicans and Republican-like Democrats such as Joe Manchin, and many others, he knows I’m usually being far more naughty than nice.
Maybe that says being naughty comes easier for me than being nice. I hope not, but at the same time when I think of people selfishly putting my life at risk and those I love and millions of others, and I think of people willing to sacrifice our democracy to support a despot like Donald Trump, being naughty toward them not only comes easy, but actually feels like the right thing to do.
Not that I don’t want to be nice. I really do. I want to have good thoughts and positive feelings toward everyone. But it often takes more energy than I want to give.
It’s Christmas, though, so as someone who stands in the Christian tradition I am willing to try to think better thoughts and let go of less than nice feelings about certain other people.
Not that the people I don’t want to have nice thoughts about or be nice to in person deserve anything nice from me or any other decent person.
They don’t. They’ve been speaking and acting as poorly as the Alabama football team played that day. Moreover, their words and actions are causing people to die and also affecting the outcome of the great American experiment in democracy rather than a football game.
But I get what Saban was saying in the way he spoke to the reporter, that being nice takes effort, in fact, sometimes it takes all we’ve got inside to do so, but it can be done.
Right now, then, as Christmas draws closer by the hour, my goal during this holy season is to think, feel, and act nice.
I can’t make any promises for after Christmas, though. The best I can do is to focus on being nice this week, and then see where I am afterwards. I invite you to do the same.
We don’t need to make any promises beyond Christmas, just focus on the moment, imagining as we do that Santa is checking his list after all, maybe even twice, and he’s gonna find out who’s been naughty and who’s been nice.
So maybe this year – for goodness sake – we should all try really hard to be nice.
Merry Christmas!
linnposts.com 
I’m in for most of the be nice for Christmas advice.
Except Joe Machin! He is on my list for a box of coal.
That’s as nice as it gets for him. I really want to say some very naughty words to him and about him.
I’m right there with you, Rich. A box of coal for Manchin may even be generous.
Jan,
I join you and Rich in wishing Joe Manchin a huge lump of WV coal in his stocking! Like Rich, I have stronger words for him that I will not use on your blog site!! He is letting down his constituents, his old friend Joe, and the American people who most need help in the time of COVID and economic hardship.
Bill Blackwell
I agree withy you 100%, Bill, but I’m still trying to be nice about it this week. I’ll let you know how I do after Christmas.
I like the idea. Maybe it would help to wear a Santa suit all day. You have to be nice if you’re dressed up like Santa, don’t you?
I confess I’m not willing to try that hard, Wilbur.
when it comes to trumpers and anti-vaccers you have to do my part with yours, Christmas gives them no pass with me
Guy, I’m just trying to be nice. Didn’t say I was succeeding.
Serious and funny at the same time, I hope. Marry Christmas to y’all as well.
Jan you are too funny. Keep trying. That’s what counts. Merry Christmas
Love
Louise and Don
Oh bother! Do I have to be nice to you since you’re trying to be so nice for the season? We’ll, Merry Christmas then.
You don’t have to do anything.
Jan,
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Cheerz!
Gene
And the same to you, Gene. I am sure this one is bittersweet for you. Take care, and let’s hope for a New Year with more sane people than what we have now.
Jan, I have accepted your invitation to be nice this holiday season. But, starting on Jan. 1, we nice people still have a lot of work to do to save our country from those despots of which you refer. But, on this special day of which we are all grateful, I wish you and yours a very, merry Christmas. John
Glad you did so, John, but I agree, after Christmas our attention has to be on making sure rational people govern instead of the irrational minority. There is, indeed, lots of work to do. Glad we are working together.
Greetings, Jan!
I Identify with your article 100%. Bill and I sit in sadness this Christmas from loss of 4 family members to Covid since Oct 13 and the latest on Christmas Eve. Only one was vaccinated at 97-and didn’t want to fight to get well. I quickly get the “nice” thing-sometimes I don’t like myself from preaching what I find are the facts and am looked down upon for being pro-vaxer and mask wearer. After these deaths, some still don’t get it and say “God took her or him” —and then I’m not nice.
So, my problem is nice versus honesty and truthfulness has become a bother to me. We all were taught to be nice, right?? Well, as you say, where is the respect? Even in death “change” is too hard for a culture that has been enmeshed in lies and conspiracies even when the truth could give them life.
I will see the coming year pledging to be truthful versus nice-or as nice as I can be!
Happy New Year!
Virginia, what you have written is an excellent addition to what I wrote. Moreover, the stories our doctor son tells us about the attitude of unvaccinated Covid patients he is treating in the ICU and their families confirm what your experience has been. I am trying to be nice to such people, and have better thoughts about them, but like you I am also determined not to let them win the day. Thank you for this comment. Happy New Year to you and Bill.