Writing by Kaitlyn Hardy
We can learn a lot about life if we take the time to listen to those who’ve lived longer than us. But if you’re young, working and raising children, time is a precious commodity. So, we’re doing the listening for you by chatting with people who have lived in our community for several decades. This time, we’re speaking with someone who doesn’t actually live here, but trust us, he still knows us all. Santa Claus is coming to town, and he stopped by to chat with us about his life as…well, Santa.
He’s a pilot, a delivery man and a celebrity; he’s traveled the world, met millions of boys and girls, has had his fair share of cookies and milk and is the topic of hot debate. Santa Claus has a sleigh’s worth of experience, knowledge and wisdom. He’s making a list, he’s checking it twice and, wouldn’t you know, Santa’s got some pretty great advice.
Advice #1
Life’s a miracle, have fun with it
While delivering gifts, Santa takes a moment to admire the beauty of every Christmas tree.
“Usually, when children meet me, they are enchanted – they look at me with wonder and there’s this magic in their eyes,” says Santa Claus. “But as they get older, people become a little calloused and adults don’t believe anymore. I wish they’d keep that innocence, wonder and love.”
Santa knows that, more often than not, their disenchantment comes from the everyday stresses of adulthood– mortgages, bills, raising kids. Yet, even while carrying the weight of the world (and the weight of all the world’s toys), Santa is able to stay merry and jolly.
“I have a great deal of responsibility. I mean, I must deliver gifts to everybody throughout the world – all in one night! Am I stressed because I have a lot to do? Absolutely! But I don’t let that override the spirit of kindness and love and peace,” Santa explains.
What’s the trick? See life as a miracle, including all the minute details. Appreciate every smile that comes your way, look at every cloud in the sky with wonderment, cherish every person you talk to. The best way to live from day to day, year to year, is by “looking at life and having fun,” explains Santa. “Keep your eyes open to what is around you and you’ll have that spirit and wonder!”
Advice #2
Give yourself “me time”
As hectic as things may seem, give yourself the rest and relaxation you deserve. Even Santa knows the importance of taking the time to care for yourself. When he’s not making toys for children all around the world, which is no small task, Santa still finds time to do the (other) thing he loves most – scuba diving.
“We start preparing toys on December 26, so it’s a 12-month-a-year job, but I do take a little vacation,” he says. “I go to the Caribbean to spend time in the sun and scuba dive. I love to be underwater because I don’t have to hear anything or do anything except listen to the sound of my breathing and look at the beautiful, beautiful, beautiful world that we live in. I love the fish, especially sharks – they’re the most beautiful animals I’ve ever seen. To watch them swim is just unbelievably gorgeous.”
“On my last diving trip,” he continues, “I watched a small octopus move across the coral, which is a rare thing to witness. And as it would move, it would settle in one place for a few minutes and change its color to match the coral. I just hovered above him or her and watched that whole process for about 10 minutes.”
Even Santa needs a little ‘me time’—taking a nap while traveling the world.
Advice #3
Show your parents some love, no matter your age
“When I meet young children, the one thing I leave young children with is this: ‘No matter how old you get, you have to promise me that every day, you’re gonna go up and give your parents a hug and tell them you love them,’” says Santa.
Even adults should tell their parents that they love them, he says. And do it sincerely. Parents give their children everything they can, from a roof over their heads and food on the table to clothing and experiences.
“Sometimes your parents are gonna ask things of you, or get frustrated with you for something, but it doesn’t mean that you’ve done something wrong; they just want to try to guide you in the right direction,” he explains. “Parents love their children until the day they pass on. They love them unconditionally– to the moon and back. And you need to give that same love back to them.”
Advice #4
Love one another for who they are
Santa leaps with joy, spreading love and peace for all.
“When children meet me, we talk a lot about peace, love and understanding,” says Santa – and he doesn’t mean the song. “I think people need to be more open and understanding. People need not hold prejudices, and people need to recognize the fact that we’re all here for the same thing – love and peace and happiness.”
While embracing these common goals, it’s also important to accept everybody’s uniqueness.
“Even though we breathe the same air and bleed the same color blood, everybody is different in some way,” he says. “And we need to be more receptive to the differences in people.”
And with each of these differences comes different personalities and traits. We may express these aspects of ourselves in varying ways, showing different talents and skills, but in accepting the beauty of these differences, we “build off each other’s strengths,” says Santa.
Advice #5
No, there isn’t a naughty list, but that doesn’t mean we can’t all try to be a bit nicer
Santa has a reputation as an expert gift-giver, but he also believes that generosity and kindness extend beyond special occasions. It’s the little things that matter.
“Hold doors for people, offer to help somebody who is struggling with something, smile at people walking down the street. You’d be surprised at the positive responses you’ll get, and small acts of kindness snowball.”
Donating your time and abilities is another incredible way to express kindness while giving back to your community. For the past 15 to 20 years, Santa has taken time out of his busy schedule to surprise families at the Westchester Christmas Dinner, an event which provides food, clothes and gifts to low-income families in our area. The volunteers who organize and participate in this event demonstrate the true spirit of the holiday season. “It’s some of the most incredible hours I’ve spent in my life,” he says.
“They provide all these people – 300, 400 people – with an incredible dinner,” he describes. “They also receive lightly used clothing, there’s music playing, arts and crafts for the kids. And then the elves go around to everybody to find out what their interests are, and there are classrooms in the back that are filled with gifts – everything from books to makeup for the older folks to basketballs and handheld games, pretty much everything for everybody. The volunteers that come from the community to set up the dinner, to provide the gifts, the elves that have to carry all the bags of gifts – it’s all these people that do such an incredible job to help out those less fortunate than us.”
To sum it up…
“If you didn’t get my drift, I’m all about peace, love and happiness,” says Santa.
Love and kindness make our lives worth living. Plus, “it’s so much easier to be happy than to be miserable.”
Gifts don’t have to be material objects. They can be as simple as a hug, a small act of kindness or, as Santa just gave us, words of wisdom.
Santa strolling down the street, with a merry group of little ones trailing behind.
This article was published in the November / December 2022 edition of Connect to Northern Westchester.
Kaitlyn Hardy
Kaitlyn Hardy is studying journalism and film at Emerson College. In addition to being a writer, Kaitlyn is also an avid reader, tea drinker, and movie watcher.
Justin is an award-winning designer and photographer. He was the owner and creative director at Future Boy Design, producing work for clients such as National Parks Service, Vintage Cinemas, The Tarrytown Music Hall, and others. His work has appeared in Bloomberg TV, South by Southwest (SXSW), Edible Magazine, Westchester Magazine, Refinery 29, the Art Directors Club, AIGA and more.
Justin is a two-time winner of the International Design Awards, American Photography and Latin America Fotografia. Vice News has called Justin Negard as “one of the best artists working today.”
He is the author of two books, On Design, which discusses principles and the business of design, and Bogotà which is a photographic journey through the Colombian capital.
Additionally, Justin has served as Creative Director at CityMouse Inc., an NYC-based design firm which provides accessible design for people with disabilities, and has been awarded by the City of New York, MIT Media Lab and South By Southwest.
He lives in Katonah with his wonderfully patient wife, son and daughter.
