by Joy Reichard

At this time of year our attention often turns to what we don’t have rather than what we do — and for good reason! The season of non-stop shopping has arrived. With Thanksgiving behind us, the race to get ready for the next round of holidays begins. No sooner have we celebrated the season of plenty then, with the advent of the first official days of Christmas shopping, we enter four frenetic weeks of looking, finding, ordering and buying. We go from celebrating abundance and gratitude to experiencing the overwhelming requests  of needs, wants and desires.

Before we head to the mall, it would do our souls good to have a reality check — to not only count our blessings, but to focus on them. Money is going to have to buy a lot in the next few weeks, but it can’t buy the gifts that count most: good health, a loving relationship, close family ties, caring friends and community, the fulfillment of creative expression, and inner peace. We forget this, not because we are ungrateful, but because we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. The things that money can buy can’t fill   the deep need within all of us for acceptance, love and connection.

Let’s make a commitment to do the holidays differently this year. I know it is good for the economy for consumers to rush around spending money, but few of us really need more stuff! Most of our closets, drawers and garages are already stuffed with things. The storage industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the country. And it only takes an hour to open all the presents that have been bought during the four-week holiday spending spree.

Thus, why not scale down the holiday spending splurge and instead hold onto the Thanksgiving feelings of gratitude a bit longer by generously reaching out to those around us with feelings of well-being, tolerance and compassion?  It takes fewer facial muscles to smile than to frown. So why not practice smiling more, and being kinder, gentler and more patient? Instead of getting caught up in the holiday rush, reach out and re-connect with a friend, acquaintance or relative who has drifted away. Or reflect on how you can enrich your relationships by spending quality time together — truly sharing and caring.

This holiday season, spend less time rushing and buying and doing, and make an effort to be present and mindful of what is truly important. This holiday season, give the gifts that money can’t buy: understanding, connection, love and peace.

Happy Holidays!

Joy Reichard, behavioral remodelist, uses hypnotherapy techniques to help individuals break free from old behaviors, attitudes and beliefs that are inhibiting their success, health, happiness and well-being. She can be reached at 415-819-8769 or jreich14@sbcglobal.net.