There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas

Host:
The room was quiet, the soft hum of the world outside barely audible as the early morning light streamed through the window, casting warm, golden hues across the floor. Jack sat in the armchair by the fire, a mug of coffee in his hands, while Jeeny stood by the window, gazing out at the world. The atmosphere was peaceful, but there was a quiet weight between them, as though both were thinking about something that lingered just beneath the surface.

Jeeny:
(She turns to Jack, her voice soft, almost wistful.)
“I came across a quote by Erma Bombeck today. She said, ‘There’s nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child.’ It made me think... do you ever miss that feeling? The wonder and excitement of Christmas when you were a kid? Do you think we lose something as we get older?”

Jack:
(He looks up, his expression softening, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he thinks about it.)
“I think there’s a certain magic that fades as you grow up, sure. Christmas used to be full of anticipation, you know? The excitement of waking up early, rushing to the tree, the thrill of the unknown. As an adult, it doesn’t have the same sense of wonder. It becomes more about responsibilities — shopping, planning, hosting. There’s still joy, but it’s different. It’s like we lose that sense of pure excitement, and sometimes, that feels a little sad.”

Jeeny:
(She sits down beside him, her voice gentle, but with a hint of curiosity.)
“Do you think we outgrow the magic, or do we just become so wrapped up in the logistics of adulthood that we forget to make room for it? When we were kids, everything about Christmas was new, and everything felt bigger, didn’t it? As adults, we lose that sense of surprise. But maybe it’s not about losing the magic — maybe it’s about remembering to create it again, in our own way.”

Jack:
(He takes a sip of his coffee, his voice more reflective now.)
“You’re right. Maybe we don’t lose it, we just forget how to tap into it. As a kid, the world feels so full of possibilities, and Christmas is the peak of that. But as an adult, we get bogged down by the details. It’s hard to feel like a child again when we’re focused on all the grown-up stuff that comes with the season.”

Jeeny:
(She smiles, a glint of understanding in her eyes.)
“I think it’s easy to get caught up in the routine, the expectations, and the stress that come with the holiday season. But maybe it’s about choosing to see things through a different lens — to bring back some of that childlike wonder. Not just for the kids around us, but for ourselves. What if we approached Christmas not as something to get through, but as something to experience fully again? Maybe we don’t need to go back to being a child, but we can bring some of that same energy into the way we celebrate, without losing the joy that comes with it.”

Jack:
(He smiles softly, the weight of the conversation settling in, his voice a little lighter now.)
“You’re right. Maybe it’s about reconnecting with that sense of joy and not letting the responsibilities strip it away. There’s something powerful in embracing the magic, even as adults. Maybe it’s about remembering the simple things — the laughter, the excitement, the way we used to look at the world.”

Jeeny:
(She nods, her voice gentle, but with a sense of resolution.)
“Exactly. It’s about making the space to be present again, to see Christmas with new eyes, like we did when we were kids. We don’t have to be children to experience the magic; we just have to open ourselves to it, to let the wonder back in. The joy doesn’t have to fade as we get older — it just changes. And maybe, that’s enough.”

Host:
The room feels a little warmer now, the conversation unfolding like a quiet revelation. The weight of the holiday season, often overshadowed by the pressures of adulthood, now feels lighter — not because the responsibilities vanish, but because the magic can be found again, in the small moments, the simple joys. Jack and Jeeny sit together, each contemplating the gift of embracing the season with a childlike heart, remembering that the magic of Christmas is not something to be left behind, but something to be rediscovered, year after year.