It seems like a rare quality to find someone who is simply happy in their situation. Especially in our privileged area of Johnson County, it is so easy to fall into the mindset that unless we have this phone or jeans from that brand, we are ‘unfortunate’. People focus on getting more, more, more rather than realizing what they already have right in front of them. When did the holidays become focused on how much we get, rather than who we are with?
And while the holidays are supposed to promote good old-fashioned values like kindness, family and giving, all that has been diminished. ‘Tis the season of personal gain. But before I get started on a stereotypical ‘Christmas rant’, I’ll say that this isn’t just the attitude during the holidays, but all year round.
The holidays shouldn’t be a reason to suddenly start being extra wholesome and kind. Just because the Salvation Army bells start ringing at the beginning of winter, doesn’t mean that people’s need’s diminish when the snow melts. And we shouldn’t only show appreciation for our family when they are handing us colorfully-wrapped gifts. Why don’t we live with these values everyday and just use holidays as a reminder to keep living that way?
I realize that not everybody is unappreciative of the small things. There are many people who value other things besides what’s under the tree. For some, it is a gift just to have all of the members of their family together. For others, it’s a gift to use their time to serve people. And even then there are some who appreciate the most overlooked thing of all – having yourself and those around you in good health. Something to keep in mind this winter is that while we are focusing on getting everything, there are people who are happy with the things they have.