Finding Warmth in the Season of Giving
- JP de la Rama
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Why Artists Must Keep Celebrating, Even When Times Are Hard
“Celebration isn’t something you earn after success—it’s what keeps your creativity alive while you’re still fighting for it.”
Setting the Stage
Christmas is upon us again.
In the Philippines, this means Christmas parties, overflowing tables during Noche Buena, and that familiar warmth that somehow survives—even when everything else feels like it’s falling apart.
The economy is unstable.
Inflation is eating away at whatever savings we try to protect.
Corruption remains business as usual.
And yet… we still celebrate.
I watch my five-year-old daughter light up at every Christmas party she attends—eyes wide at the gift-giving, the food, the laughter, the music.
For her, Christmas is pure magic. And watching her reminds me why, despite everything, Filipinos continue to show up for this season year after year.
When Reality Clashes with Tradition
Let’s be honest.
For many working adults—especially freelancers and artists—Christmas isn’t always relaxing.
Some of us still work on the 24th.
Deadlines don’t magically disappear.
Bills don’t take holidays.
We endure long hours, delayed payments, and uncertainty just to carve out a few precious hours with our families.
As artists, this season can feel especially heavy.
The industry is volatile.
AI is disrupting livelihoods.
Opportunities feel fewer, competition harsher, and rewards smaller.
And yet, this time of year exposes a hard truth:
If we strip away joy completely in the name of survival, what are we really surviving for?
I grew up with very little. Holidays weren’t extravagant. But the moments—shared food, laughter, stories—stuck with me.
Now, as a parent and creator, I realize that these moments aren’t distractions from work.
They’re fuel.
Choosing Meaning Over Circumstance
Christmas reminds us of something essential: rest and celebration are not rewards—you don’t earn them after success; they sustain you on the way there.
For artists navigating instability, here are a few lessons this season continues to teach me:
1. Celebrate what you can, not what you lack
Joy doesn’t need extravagance. Presence matters more than presentation.
2. Protect your creative energy
Rest isn’t laziness. R&R resets your mind, refuels your imagination, and prevents burnout.
3. Let family moments anchor you
These experiences—especially with our children—become emotional capital that informs our art and reminds us why we create.
4. Keep going, even imperfectly
Sometimes enduring is the bravest form of resistance. Showing up despite uncertainty is its own kind of victory.
As artists, we don’t just create images, stories, or ideas—we create meaning.
And during seasons like this, meaning matters more than momentum.
So even if the world feels heavier this year, even if work is unstable and the future unclear, take the time to celebrate.
Laugh with your family. Eat together. Rest when you can.
Because sometimes, surviving isn’t about hustling harder—it’s about remembering what makes life worth drawing, animating, writing, and fighting for in the first place.
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