Here’s the beautiful truth: the places that are open on Christmas are run by people who chose to serve you. Maybe they’re getting holiday pay. Maybe they just like the quiet. But when you walk into that CVS or that Chinese restaurant, you’re not just a customer. You’re a fellow traveler in the great, messy circus of the holidays.
You’re part of a secret club of people who didn’t plan ahead, or who just needed a moment away from the chaos. And guess what? That’s okay. The world keeps spinning. The hot dogs keep rolling. The coffee keeps dripping. And somewhere, a kind stranger is handing you a receipt with a smile—because they know you’re trying your best.
So go on. Grab that gas station sandwich. Eat that slightly stale cookie. Merry Christmas, my friend. You’re doing just fine.
