Gareth O'Callaghan: Finding comfort in the mystery of grief during the Christmas season

As we grow older, we become more cynical, which is sad. Cynicism is not healthy, but, thankfully, strange things happen at Christmas that are beyond our control, writes Gareth O'Callaghan

Gareth had an asymmetrical encounter on the train back to Cork last week. File picture: Denis Minihane

CHRISTMAS would be perfect if life didn’t get in its way. It’s taken me the best part of 50 years to realise that; but if life teaches us another lesson, it’s that cynicism kills possibility. If you don’t believe me, look at the magic in a child’s eyes on Christmas morning.

As we grow older, we become more cynical, which is sad. Cynicism is not healthy, but, thankfully, strange things happen at Christmas that are beyond our control; at times beyond our conscious understanding. These are fleeting moments that stop us dead in our tracks; moments that leave even the most cynical speechless. Call them the magic of Christmas.