According to Aesop, there once was a scorpion who wanted to cross a river. A horse was grazing along a river bank.

“Kind horse,” said the scorpion, “Will you take me on your back across the river?”

Thinking it over a moment, the horse replied, “Sure. Hop on my back.”

When the horse reached the middle of the river, he turned his head to look at the scorpion, and just at that moment the scorpion lifted his tail and stung the horse.

Astonished, the horse said, “Why did you bite me? Now both of us will die.”

The scorpion’s reply: “It’s my nature.”

Like the scorpion’s, some people’s true nature is more clearly seen at Christmas.

Some people’s nature is to get frantic and frazzled with shopping starting the day after Thanksgiving. They run from store to store trying to pick out the perfect gift for everyone on their list. But once they have purchased all their gifts, they continue to shop every spare moment to find even more perfect gifts. Then they have to return their original gifts. And on and on it goes.

Others exhaust themselves with decorating. They never feel that they have strung enough lights. The mailbox could still use a string or two. They must have a Christmas tree in the living room, one in the family room and one in the basement. Pine roping must adorn every banister and doorway. And why have a wreath on only the outside door?

How about the Christmas baker who must shell 50 pounds of nuts, make 16 different types of cookies, and give everyone they know a home-baked item?

People’s attitudes about receiving gifts show their nature, too. Some never feel satisfied with their Christmas gifts. No matter how many they get, they never feel that they have received enough. Or they are always dissatisfied with the gifts they receive. Or they calculate the gifts’ value and never feel people spend enough.

It’s the nature of some to use the holidays as an excuse to eat everything in sight and gain 10 to 20 pounds. Others view the holidays as one long drinking party.

Unlike the scorpion’s, human nature is not set. Perhaps hanging fewer strings of lights, making fewer batches of cookies, consuming fewer drinks, and deciding to be satisfied, will help you better enjoy the holidays - as a human being instead of an arachnid.

If you have enjoyed reading this column, click here to subscribe to Doris’ blog and receive it directly into your inbox each week. Check out Doris’ books, “The Boy Whose Idea Could Feed the World,” “The Parent Teacher Discussion Guide,“ and “Thin Becomes You” at Doris’ web page: http://www.doriswildhelmering.com.