what is the holiday season besides a mechanism for the american corporate engines to use in order to exploit a heightened sense of materialism in the public?
jcpenny, zales, and many others offer us touching commercials of people giving gifts, diamonds and cars. on the surface we see the spirit of the holidays: giving and sharing with those we love. underlying it all is just another problem with america - we buy, buy, buy.
it isn't to say other countries don't do the same, or that i don't condone buying things for others this holiday season. i'll be receiving gifts like many other people, and in may i'll be going overseas in a trip that costs thousands of dollars - none of which are my own.
but why do we have to buy things to show our love? why does it take new HDTVs, video game systems, diamond rings or a new acura to make your spouse or child smile? is it because we as a nation don't know how else to arouse our long-lasting relationships other than to commit ourselves to a materialistic model of love?
or maybe i'm looking too much into it. maybe the holidays is just a time for all those people who work all year to relax and get free stuff from others. but consider this: when christmas (or hanukkah, or whatever holiday one might celebrate) leads into new year's day, and the tree comes down, and the ornaments are packed away, and the garland is stored in large plastic boxes, and the lights are painstakingly taken off your front porch or roof, and we all go back to our lives, will you still be happy?
the first week in january, maybe the 3rd or the 4th, just after you break that resolution of losing weight by eating leftover christmas cookies or failing to do your morning jog, will you still make those around you happy? can you do that without giving them stuff?
enjoy this holiday season and enjoy the gifts you give and/or receive. but don't think that it's all about giving and receiving. i'd like to quash this concept. the entire year should be spent giving and receiving.
give in the middle of march, or the end of the summer, or a week before someone's birthday. give post-it notes that say i love you, or a single flower instead of a bouquet. give a hug to a friend, and when they ask why, remind them. call your parents or your grandparents to say thank you. call your brothers or sister (blood related or not) and see how they're doing. why wait until the holiday season to spend time with family?
december is just another month on the calendar. just because we buy big trees and wrap up presents doesn't mean we can't carry its central theme with us throughout the year.
1 comment:
This should go in everyones Christmas card this year. It is so true. Especially for those truly in "need". Are they not also in need in March or July!!
thanks for writing this. Should be in the newspaper.
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