I was talking
with a friend this morning who said, “I’m already exhausted… and the holiday
season just began!”
She went on to
say that she barely had time to enjoy Thanksgiving because she spent so much
time and energy shopping, decorating, cooking, and cleaning that the actual
dinner seemed like a big blur. At one point she stated, “But the good news is,
everyone else enjoyed it!”
As I listened, I
was flooded with emotions and memories of my holidays past: I was her just a
few years ago. I felt her pain and her desire to make everything perfect for
everyone else, forgetting about her own wants and needs.
While excited to
see the holidays come, I used to be even happier to see them go. Sad, but true.
The Gift of Time
Three years ago,
I gave myself a gift that changed my life.
I gave myself permission to let go of having to do it all and to have it all be perfect. I gave myself the freedom to simply enjoy this special season – the lights, the sounds, and the smells.
Most of all, I
gave myself the best gift I could ever give – the gift of more time to actually be with the people I love.
Black Friday is
now over, but if we listen to the noisy marketing messages, “’Tis the season to
buy.” The hunt is on for the “perfect gifts” or the latest new gadgets. The
mission is on to get the best holiday bargains for fear of missing out on
things we “must have” to create the perfect holiday.
Think About the Numbers
According to the
National Retail Federation:
- 114.6 Million Americans were expected to shop on
Black Friday; - 174 Million people were expected to shop between
Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday; - $6.2 Billion dollars were spent during that 5-day
period; - 65% say they will shop “because the deals are
just too good to pass up.”
While those
statistics are staggering, it is not
just the number of people who will shop or the amount of money they will spend,
it is the amount of precious time and energy that will NOT be spent with
families and loved ones… time we can’t get back.
It is the amount of time and energy that will
be wasted while waiting in long lines to pack or checkout. (I would trade long lines
for laugh lines any day!)
It is the amount of time and money that is
often wasted on things people may not need – or ever want – just adding to more clutter in their homes and in their
lives.
What Will You Spend?
Before you decide to indulge in loads of
holiday shopping, think about these questions:
- Who or what
is consuming your precious time this holiday season? - What is
preventing you from slowing down and fully embracing the true meaning of the holidays? - What
gift can you give yourself this year that will not only change your life, but
the lives of those you love the most?
Perhaps the best
present of all is you. It could
simply be your presence.
“If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that the most important things in life are not things at all. The memories created with those we love, conversations and laughter around the kitchen table, quality time spent with family, friends, and people in need, and a chance to make a difference in the world are the ‘things’ that bring the greatest joy… ”
“Choose to live a rich abundant life with less.”
Rita Wilkins, “The Downsizing Designer”
How will you
spend your time and money this holiday season? Will you be waiting in lines or
will you be preparing to share your time with the people you love? Do you give
time to yourself? Please share your thoughts below.
