It’s the Most Wonderful Gift
of the Year
By Joy Fisher-Sykes
It’s
the most wonderful time of the year. As we deck the halls and fill the malls,
we’re filled with anticipation, joy, and excitement. The holiday season is
upon us, and it’s a special time we choose to show our appreciation and share
our love with the special people in our lives. However, with all of the joy
the holidays bring, this still tends to be one of the most stressful times of
the year. Why?
Could
it be because it’s intoxicating to buy loved ones whatever their hearts desire
– and we’re willing to rise in the dark of night to shop in the pre-dawn hours
for the “gift of the year”? Ah, yes, the mad dash to the 5 a.m. sale where
you’re guaranteed to be pushed, run over, stepped on, and after a long wait
told “Sorry sold out;” only to then have the pleasure of standing in a check
out line as long as the east coast. Hum. Do you ever question the sanity of a
day like this in a life that seems to have so little time, and a world that’s
filled with job insecurity, war, and economic ups and downs? If so, why do
you still feel so torn? Could it be because we’ve allowed marketers,
advertisers, manufacturers, and retailers to shape our outlook and convince us
to buy into their vision of the perfect life? This life where you shop to
create the perfect body, so you can be with the perfect partner, live in the
perfect house, and drive the perfect car to the perfect job so we can afford
the perfect lotions and potions to forever live the perfect life. Wake up and
smell the perfect hype! The holidays are not about being manipulated into
believing in some artificially created image that drives sales; it’s about
your vision of giving and sharing the joy your choice to create.
Stress
of the season happens when we fret about how our gift will be received. A
disconnect exists when we fear if our gift is disliked, then somehow we too
will be rejected and denied the friendship, affection or acceptance we so
desire. Although intellectually, we know nothing could be further from the
truth, we may still feel the need to explain away or apologize for our gifts
of love. I say if you hold this to be your truth and also believe that the
worth of your relationships is based on the monetary value of gifts exchanged,
then I strongly urge you to re-examine and re-evaluate your relationships.
At a
time when many feel compelled to spend more money (perhaps more than they can
afford) yet feel they have less time, it’s important to focus on the deeper
meaning and spirit of the holidays. Now and in the days to come, regroup and
refocus your energies to give the most priceless gift you always have to offer
– YOU. Truly the most wonderful gifts of the year are heartfelt, so here are
a few you can offer the whole year through.
-
Create A Moment
Moments are magical times
when someone later turns and says, “Remember the time we…” Moments don’t just
happen; they’re created. Moments are the gifts that keep on giving and that
can be relived at any time over and over again.
-
Unconditional Love and
Friendship
No judging, no gossiping,
no criticizing – No Kidding!
