Peanut Economics: Undercover Investigations - What Really Goes On Behind Those Reindeer Games

As part of a special edition series of Peanut Economics, I have decided to investigate some of the seemingly innocuous and secretive jobs we all take for granted to find out the truth behind them. Take Santa's reindeer for example. We only hear about their activities one night out of the year, but what about the other 364 days out of the year?

I decided to go undercover to find out what Santa's reindeer were really up to.....

I tracked them down in a back yard in suburbia playing hopscotch and double dutch. I thought I would mingle among the reindeer brethren to get the scoop on their activities....

There was only one problem....they wouldn't let me join in any of their reindeer games...

It was actually kind of mean and hurt my feelings. So I left without my scoop, figuring maybe it wasn't so great to be a reindeer after all, even if you do get to pull Santa's sleigh.

I guess I didn't really get a scoop, but I did learn a really neat lesson. Sometimes, things may seem like they might be better for you if you were walking in another person's shoes, but the reality of that other person's life might not be so great. The person you are envying might not be so great when you get to know them. (I mean what kind of person doesn't let you play in their games?)

At any rate, I am just really glad to be me, and I wouldn't trade shoes with anyone else in the world. I hope you can find joy in your own shoes too!