Memories don't come with a Price Tag

by Bea
(Los Angeles)

Exactly when did the Holidays become about getting everyone we've ever known a gift? When did we stop taking time to make the Holidays a magical time instead of a stress filled activity filled and shopping till you drop season.

My parents didn't have allot of money, but most of the memories I have of Christmas are of family gatherings around meals, my aunts and mom getting together to make Tamales, my dad and I decorating the front of our home with lights and how magical the twinkling the lights were on the Tree. Then there was also preparing for the annual Christmas performance at school, listening to Christmas Carols on the radio and watching classic Holiday Movies on TV. It was a simpler time, but it seems that everyone had a different perspective on what the season was all about, then also.

As I grew older and had children of my own, we would spend at least part of the Holiday preparing for a form of outreach, by taking gifts to families less fortunate, this instilled a sense of appreciation for my children when they did receive gifts. There are so many ways for us to celebrate regardless of our spiritual leanings, that don't require incurring debt.

Generosity doesn't have to be defined by your pocketbook. I recently enjoyed a gathering with some Single Mothers, everyone brought a dish to share and we decided to exchange a White Elephant Gift. No one had to spend any money and the Gift Exchange was allot of fun to watch what everyone had received. Memories should be about time spent with those you Love and Enjoy spending time with, they should be about events that will remain in our hearts and traditions that we can hand down to future generations.

How nice would it be if the Holidays offered up warm memories instead of coveting the newest tech gift, feelings of hope and joy instead of anxiousness over a To Do list and if we all thought more about the reason we give and Celebrate the Season at all than how are we're going to afford it all.

So in closing I think we all need to be reminded that memories don't come with a Price Tag.


Comment by KAte (site owner)
I totally agree, it really saddens me. Its the simple things which really make us happy.
Happy Christmas