Tis the season, and while Santa Claus is the star of the secular Christmas show, let’s not forget another character who’s etched his way into holiday lore—the Grinch. This not-so-jolly, green character once attempted to swipe Christmas right from under our noses. Today, we’re coming to you from the Grinch’s cave in Utah, for the only interview he’s granted all year.

John:

Thank you, Mr. Grinch, for joining me. Let’s dive in with some basics. Where did you come from?

Grinch:

Ah, the origins. If you’re well-versed in Christmas tales, you’d know Dr. Seuss (aka Ted Geisel) penned How the Grinch Stole Christmas. My debut, however, was in a 1955 poem called “The Hoobub and the Grinch,” later purchased by Dr. Seuss. And the rest, as they say, is grinchy history.

John:

So, what exactly are you, Mr. Grinch?

Grinch:

Ah, the eternal mystery. In the book, I’m white, but thanks to technicolor, I’m portrayed as a vibrant green furry creature with a pointed nose. My genetic ties to the Whos, well, that remains an enigma.

John:

Is this cave your original home?

Grinch:

Yes, indeed. As heinous as it may seem, there’s no place like home. For the last 68 years, I’ve been here, outside my cave, harboring my disdain for the Whos.

John:

Why did you try to stop Christmas for the Whos in Whoville, Mr. Grinch?

Grinch:

Flashbacks to early days. As a baby Grinch, I floated into Whoville, in a little basket landing outside a Who-house. Seeing them revel at their annual holiday get-together sparked my… um, let’s call it a holiday disagreement.

John:

Is that a tear I see in your eye, BB Grinch? Why, what is wrong?”

The Grinch:

Other than being left outside in the cold until MORNING,” said the Grinch, “NOTHING!” No, I guess I just realized how I blamed the Whos AND CHRISTMAS for my unhappiness. I pushed everyone away and stayed isolated in my cave. Just me and my dog Max. For the longest time I convinced myself I was better off alone.

John:

Feeling stuck and making progress are opposites. You can only be in one state at any given moment. When you recognize you’re making progress, you’re no longer stuck and miserable. Because ultimately, progress is the key to happiness.

Grinch:

Oh, the parallels! Like the time I wanted Max, my dog, to be a reindeer. I gave him his motivation: “You are a freak with a red nose, and no one likes you. Then, one day, Santa picks you and you save Christmas. No, forget that part. We’ll improvise… just keep it kind of loosey-goosey. You HATE Christmas! You’re gonna steal it. Saving Christmas is a lousy ending, way too commercial.”

John:

Well, let’s try another picture. You’re tired of feeling stuck in life, aren’t you, Mr. Grinch? You feel like you have to do something different, right?

Grinch:

Yeah, you’re right. Like right now. The Who’s invited me down there for dinner. But I think to myself, “The nerve of those Whos. Inviting me down there on such short notice! Even if I wanted to go, my schedule wouldn’t allow it. 4:00, wallow in self pity; 4:30, stare into the abyss; 5:00, solve world hunger, tell no one; 5:30, jazzercize; 6:30, dinner with me – I can’t cancel that again; 7:00, wrestle with my self-loathing… I’m booked. Of course, if I bump the loathing to 9, I could still be done in time to lay in bed, stare at the ceiling and slip slowly into madness. Besides, what would I wear?

John:

Yet, whatever you’re doing now isn’t working for you anymore. Maybe you’re tired of your current approach. It might have been successful in the past, but it hasn’t adapted to your current conditions as a reformed Grinch.

Grinch:

Am I just eating because I’m bored?

John:

Do you feel like you have to do something different, where change becomes a “must?”

Grinch:

The other night when I was stealing the presents down in Whoville,  I slunk to the icebox. I was eyeing the Whos’ feast and took the Who-Pudding. I took… the Roast Beast like a football. Hike!  I cleaned out that icebox as quick as a flash. Why, I even took their last can of Who-Hash. Then I stuffed all the food up the chimney with glee.

Then Cindy Lou Who came into the living room. She thought I was Santa. She asked that I not forget to drop off gifts for the Grinch — me! She thought I was Santa and said, “I know he’s mean and hairy and smelly. His hands might be cold and clammy, but I think he’s actually kinda… sweet.”

“SWEET?” I said, “You think he’s sweet?” She nodded, “Merry Christmas, Santa,” and went up the stairs to her bedroom.

John:

There you go. Getting an insight, a deeper understanding of something, and that creates an opening. You have a new outlook on your life and know you need to make a major change.

Grinch:

Speaking of insights, I recognized Christmas came without ribbons. Without tags. Without packages, boxes, or bags. Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas means a little bit more.

John:

Go ahead, Mr. Grinch. Push through feeling stuck until you reach with your heart to Cindy Lou’s words from her heart. Tremendous progress is on the other side of your fear, as long as you have the courage to go after it. A door opens…and you step right through it.

Grinch:

You can’t hurt Christmas because it isn’t about the gifts or the contest or the fancy lights. That’s what Cindy’s been trying to tell everyone… and me. I don’t need anything more for Christmas than this right here: my family.

Grinch:

So I will bring back the toys and the food for the feast. And I, me myself, the Grinch, will carve the roast beast.

“There’s nothin’ like the holidays,” exclaimed the Grinch. Who wants the gizzard?” And he swallowed it down before anyone could claim it.

*****

Oh, the Who-manity of it all! Then they all laughed, and The Grinch got knee-slappy. Couldn’t even tell what made him most happy. Was it simply because he had tried something new? Or the chance for a boost in friend revenue? No—while the latter was certainly true—it was more about what connects him, and me, and you. We all want success, to be heard, to be better. We can spend our time bitter, or working together. So this holiday season, I hope you will find fewer Grinches and more friends, in real life and online.