Getting Caught Up in The Hype

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As another holiday season approaches, the advertising of the Christmas countdown begins earlier and earlier each year.  We owe it to ourselves and the upcoming generations to build an archive of memories that will outlast the credit card bills that come in 2010.  My grandparents made the holidays a magical time by instilling traditions that encouraged family participation in the gathering and making of all the many items, which in time, would make the Holidays magical.  Picking apples to make and freeze pies, creating applesauce and then apple butter, making apple cider, and having all these wonderful foods and smells.  I now know that all that work and fellowship make Thanksgiving and Christmas the exclamation point at the end of the season, that somehow shopping and spending too much cash, cannot replicate.

We should begin with the youngest of children, and get them excited about working and saving to purchase or make presents for their loved ones.  Teaching each small child that in the giving is the real magic and that finding those that are truly in need and helping can provide a glow that will carry over into their adult lives.  When we look back at our holidays and determine which holidays were truly special, I believe all of us will find that the sharing ourselves and time with the people we cherish, is ultimately what creates meaningful memories.  We need to change our focus of what is important use this season to connect and establish traditions of creating strong familes, friendships and communities. 

This time of year is a time to reflect on our past and spend time communicating with our fellow man that this is a time of hope and peace.  That we can make this world a better place by our good will toward our fellow man, that charity does begin at home.  With the elements of the current recession, it would be hard for some to call it a gift, however if we take the lessons of tightening our belts and begin understanding what is truly important; it truly is a gift. 

As we look to 2010, we can chose to create the kind of world we want by our own individual actions, and begin looking for the good in others, in ourselves and creating it to last in the upcoming generations.