Originally Published November 10,
2003 -- Your Wellness Guide
Create
Happy, Enjoyable Holiday Giving
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Seasonal giving is a part of this time of year. You’re encouraged
to give everywhere and to everyone.
Give gifts, give time, give money, give happiness. Donation
announcements and results are played over and over on the radio and
promoted on television. Christmas angels abound in every retail
outlet. The kids, spouse, and extended family make gift lists, and
everyone seems to have high expectations. |
Assistant
Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science Dr. Dan Johnston, of Mercer
University School of Medicine in Macon, Georgia, told me that because of
the mass media’s news stories, Christmas television specials, and retail
advertising, the hope for an unrealistic holiday experienced is raised.
“The reality of ‘what is,’” he says, “often falls short of the
expectation, and there is disappointment.”
Also author
of
Lessons for Living: Simple Solutions for Life’s Problems, Dr.
Johnston says that holiday expectations, or expectations of any sort, are
important because they pull us along, but he advises people to be
positive, realistic, and hopeful. “Stay within the realm of the
possible.”
|
Image: Wellington Media
Don't forget to take time out for
yourself
during the holidays to relax your body and
mind, eat right, and exercise. |
One
way to have realistic expectations is to approach the holidays with
a positive mindset. “Plan your charitable activities early, which
will put you in a better frame of mind long before the holidays
come,” says New York Holistic Therapist and Counselor Dr. Adrian
Calabrese.
She
advises to think ahead, before the season is upon you, about how you
want to spend your time during the holidays.
Her
recommendations include considering holiday activities that don’t
infringe upon your joy, that make someone’s life better in a small
way, or that include family members and friends. |
By doing
service activities together with your loved ones, Dr. Calabrese told me,
it adds fun and fulfillment, such as caroling at the local hospital
together or serving holiday meals at shelters; in this way you feel good
because you’re still spending time with your nearest and dearest while
also giving of yourself.
Atlanta,
Georgia Certified Financial Planner Kay Shirley says that planning your
spending for the holidays is also an imperative aspect of setting sensible
holiday gift-giving goals.
The
Live
Long and Profit author says not to use credit cards for holiday gift
buying. “I’ll have my client set $1000.00 as an overall Christmas
budget. Start subtracting from the $1000.00 every time a gift is bought.
This helps control spending as you see the balance going down. It really
is about counting your money.”
Giving of
yourself is also a way to not only reduce expenses but make each gift
special and meaningful. Here are some ideas:
Give gifts
that are extensions of your passion or talent.
If you are an excellent cook, show off that talent in baking gifts for
others. If you are a writer, write custom poems or create custom holiday
verses and cards. If you like the outdoors, offer to take a boy or girl
to the park to play sports or go on a hike.
Give
yourself the gift of a helper’s high.
Choose an organization that needs volunteers and spend a designated block
of time helping others.
Give service
gift certificates.
Make handmade service gift certificates that offer services at a future
date. For example, cleaning house, cooking a meal, an evening out,
computer lessons, driving an older person to a doctor’s appointment,
babysitting, pet sitting, house sitting, car washing, or yard work.
Give the gift of prayer.
If you are spiritually minded, pray for others this holiday season.
Terra
Wellington
is a
national authority on creating a wellness lifestyle.
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Wellington