Have a peaceful Christmas

As Parliament and public service departments enter their compulsory shutdown period, the rest of the city responds - quite naturally - by going into hibernation for a week or two. Newcomers often find the state of the city, its empty streets and shuttered restaurants off-putting, even eerie.

But for those of us who have been looking forward to this time all year, a week of enforced quiet is a godsend.

It is, in fact, the very best time of year. Many of us are off the clock, which means time to take the kids to the pool, drive to the coast, go out of town for picnicking day trips, or take in the shows at the gallery and museum.

A time to enjoy slow or non-existent peak hours, and a milder pace of life, in a city that’s nothing like the so-called “Canberra bubble” that is so exhaustively chronicled in the daily news. Our city is so much more than the seat of parliament, and there’s not better time than the Christmas shutdown to appreciate its many qualities.

Despite all the tinsel, glitter and shouting entreaties to consume and spend money in the spirit of gift-giving, Christmas is also a time for reflection, for spending time with family and loved ones.

But as we plod towards the end of 2018, it’s difficult not to find this time of year stressful - present buying, negotiating families, travel, money and work. It can take some effort to slow down and take a breath.

It’s also a time for many to celebrate, to kick back and have a drink, to congratulate each other for getting through the year. To revel in being off work, and able to relax and enjoy a break.

Regrettably, this is why you’ll see more police on the streets, breath-testing drivers and making sure Canberrans stay safe throughout the holidays. This should be reason enough to drink responsibly, but so too should be the thought of avoiding inconvenience, pain or tragedy in the name of driving while drunk or otherwise impaired.

There’s a reason why tragedies that occur around Christmas - be they fatal car accidents or natural disasters - take on a special poignancy. When all around us are taking stock and finding the time to be grateful for what they have, it can seem especially awful when life and the universe - and negligent driving - intervene.

As we reflect on the turbulent year that is now drawing to an end, and steel ourselves for the new one ahead, The Canberra Times would like to wish our readers - our well-read, engaged and thoughtful readers - a peaceful holiday period, and thank you for your loyal readership. We are so lucky to live in this unusual part of the world, and we feel privileged to be able to reflect this in our pages.

And finally, we hope that you find the time and space to enjoy - responsibly - our beautiful city in this quiet, peaceful, even meditative state.