Why Can’t Life Be Like a Hallmark Movie?

I believe that from October until New Years there is a nonstop, 24-hour, constant feed of Hallmark Holiday Movies, on two different channels! From my experience there is never an unhappy ending. Set your clock to the final kiss-about three minutes before the hour. Soul searching through such events as how to decorate the Inn, planning the company holiday party, saving the town from overdevelopment and lowering Santa’s cholesterol levels.

Some may balk at the lighthearted predictability of each new episode-the lack of violence, distress, and trauma-no deep or profound philosophical learning. So far, I’ve never seen anyone shot, maimed, runover or dismembered. There are no automatic weapons, evil-doers, sinister plans or domestic abuse. Of course, I may have missed a couple dozen premiers, but if you want to take a little break from the real world, crime rates, violence, profanity, political warfare-I suggest you visit the Hallmark Channel. It feels as if you are living in the world as it should be-with kindness, love and happy endings. 

I almost hate to admit it, but I do occasionally turn on the Hallmark Channel. There I go, I said it. Like drinking too much eggnog or eating too many Christmas cookies-like binge watching Mr. Rogers-it may be a bit too sweet, but there is a simple joy of life that lives there. A true sense of community with folks that do whatever they can to help each other and enjoy the holidays. There are times that I just keep the movie on in the background to hear the holiday music and see the twinkling lights. It’s a great way to vicariously latch onto the holiday spirit, to be reminded of how life could be.

I’m one of those people that have to be very careful with what I watch on TV or in the movies. I seem to get totally absorbed into what is happening on the screen-it penetrates my being-it’s as if I’m there. It lingers for days sometimes as I gradually shed the aftereffects of anything too sad, too scary, too violent. So, I watch very little and I’m very selective. My inner being, and psychic don’t need that trauma, there’s enough of that on the news. So you see, the Hallmark Channel Holiday Movies, don’t have that effect on me. They are like living inside of a snow globe. Sometimes we all need a little break from the real world.

This season it is my hope, our hope, to “Light Up the Harbor” in the spirit of the holidays-to shed some of the darkness of these past two years and to light up our village with a spirit of hope and joy and song- not unlike a Hallmark Holiday Movie. Think of how much fun it will be to walk or drive around our town, your town-wherever you live- and see the glow of each person’s holiday spirit shining through their decorations. I know it isn’t easy, sometimes it isn’t even possible, but for those of us who are able, let’s let the light of the season shine through this darkness-and offer this sign of hope to everyone.  

And if at the end of the day, when you are finished with your highbrow, scholarly viewing experiences, turn on the Hallmark Channel and light up your holidays with some simple joy and kindness and love- feel the snow fall around you, let the magic of the holidays in, and always….. pray for that happy ending.