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Holiday PlanningThe Day X-Mass Went Up For Sale
by:
Geela
My mom used to say, "we remember a friend with a flower." In different words, it's the intention and not the size of the gift that counts. But in a materialistic-driven society, wherever
everything has a cost tag even as friendships and holidays, that's considered "uncool" and politically incorrect.
Remember the famed line from the hit flick "Harry Potter" which better captures today's mentality of excessive self-indulgence and a sense of entitlement, "But Mum, how could you get me only 22 presents for X-mass this year...?"
The unholy power and the negative effects of dealing of the holiday season, which is perpetuated by the media (driven by profits), just can no longer be ignored. We spend a lot of time and energy in a trance-like manner trying to survive the jungles of purchasing
malls patch deed into further financial obligation just to meet expectations that not only don't bring us joy at all but as well create a sense of enmity as well. We feel darn too drained to even as enjoy the holiday spirit and the fruit of our labor. To ease our conscious several of us resort to causation
checks but avoiding any personal contact or having any meaning spiritual connection with others. Once
the intent behind the act of gift giving is diluted with different reasons such as giving out of a sense of obligation with resentments attached to it, or once
it's for PR purposes with strings attached, it defeats the whole intention of the true spirit of the holidays.
What once used to be an experience we thirstily
looked forward to, had become a major source of stress and even as dreadful in several cases. That's because whether we realize it or not, in the rush to satisfy our quenchless desire to consume and "keep up with the Jones's" and because we were brainwashed to believe that "He with the most toys lives," rather then "He with the most joys lives," we neglect our spiritual roots and the fact that we are spiritual beings experiencing the human experience and not the different way around. As such we were meant to live a life of meaning and intention by connecting with others with kindness and compassion through the act of giving with no strings attached. Once
we lose our spiritual foundation, we lose the biggest part of our existence that enables us not only to prosper with dignity and pride but as well we experience an artificial type of joy and life itself becomes an empty experience absent
of true meaning and intention or real joy.
Nowadays the holiday season is not talked just about in terms of celebrating the miracle of life, faith sharing, giving and connecting with the community, but rather in terms of dollars and accumulating lots of toys that produce artificial joy. The holiday season is just a geniuses marketing concept. In fact it has become so commercial
that the holiday season is the biggest marketing season. Businesses rise up or fall just based on that season alone.
But once
we ignore the true beauty of a rainbow, we miss out on a great experience and limit our joy. Maybe once
we reflect on what actually matters in life, we can once once more learn the true spirit of the holiday season which has no cost tag, and realize that so
the better things in life are free, and great things still move in small packages. That's once
we can once once more find joy in simple pleasures that comes from connecting with real folk which creates real joyful experiences in the face of any adversity or perceived lack.
The holiday spirit is all just about faith and miracles too. But once
it comes to faith and miracles, it's shocking to learn how faith in achieving a piece of the American Dream is more and more weakening
away. The American Dream is becoming more and more like the Impossible Dream. So more so that most Americans now believe that their chances of winning the lottery are probably better than achieving the American Dream. With the current Enron type of economy, the brobdingnagian financial obligation and budget deficits (which are actually a reflection of our deficit in integrity), most Americans believe that nothing short of a true miracle wish restore an economy that was once the envy of the world.
And yes, we could for certain use a miracle to deliver us from environmental and spiritual pollutions (characterized by a lack of integrity and an erosion in morality) and restore failing systems and institutions from our insulant behind the earth education, failing family systems, societal ills (senseless violence in our schools, higher crime rates on our streets, substance abuse, accumulated youth suicide, perversion and more) to corrupted politicians who are more concerned with deed electoral thus exhibiting love of power rather than power of love and fraud in businesses that has become an accepted practice in our society.
Many Americans believe that America has seen its finest hour, unless we adopt a new attitude. It would-be take a miracle to restore the greatness of this nation who was once a source of great inspiration and attained
the respect of the world, but now we find ourselves going hazardously
from a nation of innovative producers into a nation of quenchless consumers willing to get into financial obligation just to keep a fashion we can no longer afford because we feel compelled to keep up with the Jones's. This is a by product of the fresh evolved American Dream which is based on materialistic values system and drives folk to greed and corruption and the erosion of morality and integrity.
Since the holiday season is as well just about sharing the nice news, so here it is. America who is now in a desperate need for healing, hope and transformation, can be revived by restoring integrity and wholesome values system and the true spirit of the American Dream, which was based on perspiration, innovation, risk and reward, creating total prosperity, joy and peace. Now that's thing
to get excited just about and even as sing Hallelujah!
Just just about the author:
Copyright © 2004-2005, Geela
Author of "The American Dream"
http://www.Geela.com
Geela is an award winning singer/songwriter/composer, columnist, and author of the best-selling book "THE AMERICAN DREAM," her true- life story of how she came to America as a young migrator
with nothing and overcame dumbfounding obstacles to attain mega-success. She supported
ONE SPIRIT, ONE Earth to help children and promote a culture of peace and harmony. Get a free sample of her music and her book at http://www.Geela.com
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