This holiday season, we seem to be struggling to get into the holiday spirit. The concerns over the economy, the fiscal cliff, unemployment, rising costs of living, and no hockey have us all stressed out. Not even the early Black Friday (that started on Thanksgiving), nor cyber Monday seemed to get us in holiday gear. We seem to be running faster to stay in place. Every year we struggle to come up with âChristmas Lists,â but this year seems to be an even greater struggle. What we want and what we can afford are in different ball parks.
My parents would always preach that what you give or get is not important. Itâs the thought that counts. I am not sure I ever bought into that. Especially in the year when I didnât get the bike I wanted. We always seem to be caught up in the material things. On the one hand, we donât want to spend too much. On the other, we want to get just the right gifts for everyone. TV commercials, newspaper ads, and email solicitations all add to the hustle and bustle. Whoa! Stop the train, I want to get off.
Maybe we need to step back and take a deep breath. What is it that I can give to others that they would really appreciate, and not bust the bank? What would be so valuable, so precious, yet not so expensive? What would respond to others’ âneedsâ as well as their âwants?â The most precious gift of all: time!
Time is something that we always think we canât manage, because we are always so busy. The fact is that time canât be managed. No matter how much we try, we canât squeeze more than 60 minutes out of an hour or more than 60 seconds out of a minute. What we can manage is what we do with it. We can prioritize how we spend our time.
Think of giving your time as a gift – time to listen to those who need your caring comfort. Time to listen to loved ones who want to share a portion of their day with you. Time to pray â to give thanks for your blessings or petition for your needs. Time is such a precious resource â a resource we have so much of, yet so little of. They say the best things in life are free, and time is the most precious of the free. May your holiday time be joyous, peaceful, and wisely spent!
Send your questions and ideas to: Sun Day, Frugal Forum Column, P.O. Box 7505, Algonquin, IL 60102, or, by email to: thefrugalforum@gmail.com.
