My dad would always say, "Why does it have to be that day?" Lets just get together and eat, how bout' later today?" Then its later that day. Simple.

I'm approaching 60 years old so been around the block a few times . I am not a religous man never have been . I look at ALL holidays as a reminder to have a little more spring in your step , a little bigger smile , be a little more caring , share a little more with others , be a better neighbor you get the idea . I try not to be a crumudgeon and stay positive . Life is short enjoy every day the best that you can .

Being retired from the military, I have missed many holidays, birthdays and other like events. When deployed, every day is the same. Sometimes, depending on the "heat" of your duty, they might make a special meal...if you can wait long enough to get served. I personally skipped these meals, which were the only thing that made the day different. So, even to this day, none of the holidays feel different from a regular day to me.

I have given this very subject much thought. For me I work to keep the spirit going, but re-direct it to fit the current 'age'. Specifically when we were little kids that my parents went all out to welcome family and be the best hosts for the Holidays. There was a huge 'spirit" of giving in our household during that time. Not only to each other with warmth and smiles but to the local community as well.

Those days are very special to me and that spirit continues today, but now I direct it all year 'round. Instead of wishing I could go back and be that 8 year old on Christmas morning coming down the stairs and seeing all the 'magic' of Santa, I channel that into making someone else feel that be it another 9 year or 90 year old.

Example: We now go down to my in-laws in Tennessee to DO thanksgiving with them their kids / grand kids. They live in the poorest county, in a poor area so it's depressing to see all the poverty. It's an 7-8 hr drive in heavy traffic, a lot of accidents and near misses so just the drive is really stressful and I don't look forward to it.

Some of her extended family do not get along and just as we all were about to sit down; Sister-in-law starts arguing with my wife's brother, her dad steps in starts another argument and 5 of them leave...................................... the air is thick with tension...........

I was cooking spaghetti and trying to lead everyone back and stated out loud what this Holiday is about, to be thankful and lets continue enjoying each other as everyone had driven a long way to be together.....................It ended up with all smiling, fat with dinner and good wine.

The point is use you good / past memories with you loved ones, reinvent and apply those to current situations to 'keep it going'.

My $.02

it's just another day really for me. i do LOVE the time off.

but i'm not a robot..i love the feeling in the air..even if it is just a regular day for the most part for me..i am not immune to the excitement the ones that LOVE the holiday experience. everyone seems happier, peppier..that rubs off on me big-time! my neighbors putting up holiday decorations..hanging out in the neighborhood scrutinzing each other's work..intoxicating really.

i'm gonna buy into it a bit this year and cut a tree down this weekend..full on decorations. now if i had kids..whoa..all bets are off. i'd wear an elf costume if needed.

If we extrapolate the whole issue of why the holiday doesn't feel special we come to the logical conclusion that the same holds true for human life. Without a spiritual meaning, you live, you die, end of story. Just another hamster on the wheel.

Take advantage of the time that most all businesses are closed and go on a really nice vacation somewhere with the wife.

You do not have to sit home for the holiday, fly away somewhere and spend a Christmas' worth of money on a nice vacation for you and the wife.

T-day is a time to spend with family, since I do not celebrate Christs Birthday, I use the time to spend with my family or go on vacation since it is a rare moment when I can reasonably close my business.