The Holiday Season

Happy Holidays to all of you. I love this time of year because it reminds me so much of growing up as a kid listening to Christmas music and smell of the fireplace. I can here Karen Carpenter singing “Chestnut Roasting on an open fire…”

I honestly can’t believe it’s a year since I’ve been in SE Asia. Life has definitely found a way to keep going. This time last year I was still in Manila, Philippines thinking about home. Today, I’m at my parents home in Jersey thinking about the time in Manila.

We forget at times how the other half lives whether they are folks in our own city or the folks on the other side of the world. I just started thinking about the numerous amounts of advertisements and frenzy over purchasing the latest gadget.

One thing that’s been so seared into my head is this…
Life isn’t about the culmination of stuff. It’s about the culmination of experiences. It’s easy to get swayed by the ads and the spirit of spending but it’s really important to keep in mind what the holidays are for – family and loved ones.

It’s really not about the quantity of gifts or how much they cost. It’s easy to over spend this holiday season because its the time to spend but remember that 2014 is right around the corner. Start the holiday season with a new gift to yourself – a new way of thinking about things, stuff and gizmos.