原文: Six Lessons You Learn By Playing Santa

So there I was, curly white hair obscuring my eyes, curly white beard tinkling my nose, jingle-bell-bedecked hat jingle-jangling. It was my turn to be Santa Claus at the kids’ school. I had on the red suit, the big black belt, the whole works. Thinking back, I can’t help but say it was a little unreal.

Being Santa can be awfully daunting but there are a few good lessons to be learned once you step into those big black boots. They are lessons that we all knew at one point but for some reason, most have forgotten them. Perhaps it's because an iPhone didn't tell us so!

• Make the Memory
  Maybe this is the year to build a snow fort in the front yard or try ice skating in the park. Some families make a special ornament each Christmas and mark it with the year. Try something new whether it’s a gift or an experience so you can keep the years from becoming a blur. This will always be the year that I first dressed up like Santa.
  
  
• It’s about the kids
  Sure, you want that new BlackBerry (and maybe an Amazon Kindle or a nice watch), but when it comes down to it, Christmas is a kids’ holiday. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t enjoy yourself when you are a grown-up, it’s just that the joy of the holiday comes from a kid tearing into those presents when it’s barely light outside on Christmas morning. It’s not a time to be selfish.
  
  
• Respect tradition
  Whatever your religious feelings at Christmas time, Santa Claus gives you a chance to share family traditions. Always open presents on Christmas Eve or leave plate of cookies out for the big guy? Whatever they are, Christmas traditions are another way a family learns to stick together no matter what problems or clouds surround.
  
  
• Appreciate the little things
  As Santa, I got to pass out little gifts to the kids – jingle bells on a ribbon they could wear around their necks. They couldn’t be more thrilled. One of the best things about the holidays are that they bring out good behavior in most folks, so even small gestures mean a lot when they are thoughtful. So how about spreading around the thank yous and the favors – let the other guy into the parking space or thank someone for opening the door for you. And even little gifts can be great. Give out candies or cards.
  
• Don’t be a cynic
  If you are gagging on the last point, thinking about the pushing and shoving at the store or the meaningless merchandising of Christmas, take a moment. You can’t be a cynical Santa when kids are asking you if you are friends with Frosty the Snowman. Fight the temptation to hate it all. Focus on the good and, when in doubt, watch “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
  
• When in doubt, ho, ho, ho
  If you really think about it, these days are pretty ridiculous. Guy in a red suit. Trees inside the house. Egg nog?! On your way home from work, just look at the lights, turn up the radio on one of those silly songs (“Wonderful Christmastime” by McCartney is a good choice) and just laugh.
  

译文: 当圣诞老人领悟到的六点体会

我就是那样，让卷曲的白发遮住我的双眼，任卷曲的白胡子拨弄我的鼻子，由着装饰着铃铛的帽子叮叮当当。终于有机会在孩子们的学校里当了一次圣诞老人。穿上红色的衣服，系上宽大的黑色腰带，一切都像模像样。回想起来，真觉得有点不可思议。

当圣诞老人真是令人心悸，可穿上那双黑色的大靴子也有不少东西可学。这些道理我们每个人某时都懂只不过大多数人会忘却。也许是因为这些道理我们从iPhone上找不到吧。

• 留下记忆  或许你今年要在自家的小院筑起一座白雪城堡，要么去公园滑冰。有些家庭会在每年圣诞节做一些特别的装饰来做为一年的记忆。不管是一件礼物还是一次体验，尝试新的东西可以让那些美好的日子不至于那么快消散，我第一次当圣诞老人的这一年亦将成为记忆中的永恒。

• 属于孩子的节日 当然，作为大人你会想要一部新的黑莓手机（一只亚马逊网购的蜡烛或一块好手表），但说到底，圣诞节是属于孩子们的。这不是说因为你已经长大了你就不能优待自己了，作为父母的快乐来自于当圣诞节早上天亮的时候，孩子兴奋的扑进你的怀抱。这个时候可不能自私。

 

• 尊重传统 圣诞节的时候不管你的宗教情感如何，圣诞老人提供了一个机会让你分享家人团聚的传统。你总会在圣诞前夜打开礼物或者给他准备一大盘饼干吧？不管是什么礼物，也不论家人之间有什么问题，遵循圣诞节的传统总是让家人学会团聚在一起的一种方式。

• 感恩小事物 作为圣诞老人，我要给孩子们分发小礼物--那种能让他们戴在脖子上的铃铛丝带。他们高兴死了。节日里最棒的事情是他们都表现的非常好，他们有心的时候即便小小的姿势也意味深长。多说谢谢多提供帮助吧-把停车位留给别人，感谢为你开车门的人。小礼物也有大意义。分发你的糖果和贺卡。

 

• 不要愤世嫉俗 如果你对上面那条建议嗤之以鼻，想想挤挤攘攘地到店里去买些毫无意义的圣诞商品吧。当孩子们问你是不是结霜的雪人的朋友时不要嗤之以鼻。克制你的不屑。留意那些好的，如果遇到麻烦，看看《查理.布朗的圣诞节》吧。

 

• 充满怀疑时开怀大笑 假如你认真想想，这些日子真的很可笑。大人穿着红衣服，树搬进了屋子里。还有...蛋酒？！下班回家的路上，看看那些彩灯，打开收音机听一首无聊的歌（McCartney的“美妙的圣诞时光”是个不错的选择）然后开怀大笑吧。