so before us lies another holiday season.
the season of giving, family gatherings, eating, decorating...........
over eating, over spending, over giving, over decorating........
family fights, credit card debt, weight gain from over eating..........
i know bah humbug. but this is the time of year that you should take the time and think about what is important to you. what are you celebrating? why did you just spend $1000 on a ton of plastic, paper, metal, fabric to show people that you love them or that you are thinking of them?
i am overlooking my constant wondering about why the festive season drives people to spend spend spend as a way to show love, friendship, thankfulness and so forth. and then there are the people running through the malls at the last minute looking for something to give someone for chirstmas so they have something under the tree. what kind of thought even when into that gift you grabbed off the shelf at the store when you took that extended lunch to finish your shopping? or the gift that you had your secretary or assistant pick up for you for your kid because you forgot a couple things on the list?
i find it hard with little kids and trying to make them understand that games and toys aren't what is important now because of what they are surrounded with. even if your kids don't watch a lot of television or see a lot of commericals there are signs, pictures, store displays, other kids talking. i cringe when i hear "i want that" come from my kids' mouths. i have a hard time too battling with the world where santa brings big huge presents to some kids but only a book or two to another. if you have the need to buy huge material things, just make sure they come from you and not santa so santa can treat all kids the same.
i have made an important decision to appease my hatred of the commercialism of the season and overcome my anger towards those who have insseant need to spend money on things to show how you feel about someone instead of just making the time to spend with that person or those people. i can't get away from all of the commercialism and i don't want to crush my kids by telling them there is no santa so i have decided that for the next 5-6 years where santa has to exist in our lives we will buy minimal gifts which come from the jolly fat man in the red suit. santa will be the only one who brings presents and they will not be big.
the adults in my family are not buying gifts for each other - it is more important that we set aside time throughout the year to spend time with each other - if we spend money and go somewhere for a night or even if we just spend no money and get together for a meal or maybe even we figure into the calendar a family weekend get away. getting away with the boys and spend time with them, make memories.
i will also stress the importance of spending time with family and friends and explain how spending time together is a far better gift than anything material. we will make cards and things for people and put a love and hard work into things that we give to others.
my grandfather is not well, and he is my last grandparent that is still alive and i know we won't have him in our lives for much longer. my mother in law passed away 10 years ago this past september. life is too short and we don't spend enough time with the people we love and we don't tell people often enough that we appreciate them - their friendship, their support, their advice - any of that.
and buying a toy, or a cool gadget doesn't make up for it - money and things don't replace quality time
so, once the fat man is no longer in our lives this holiday season will become just that - a holiday. a break from the hussle and bussle of life, a get away from the commercialism. it will be a family holiday spending time with each other and knowing that that is what is important in life.
this christmas give the gift of time, to people you know or even someone who you don't who would appreciate it.
you can't buy time - and time, while it has no monetary value, has more value than anything
~ simply me ~
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