EDITORIAL: Christmas a time for family

WHEN last did you gather your relatives together to simply do something as a family, together? If you do not know the answer to this question or you have to scratch your head to fully remember, then you and your family are due for “an experience”.

 

This is the time of year to have a grand time with relatives and friends. But of course, we all know that as we age, it at times takes some planning to pull everyone and everything together, since we all have busy schedules and hectic lives. However, keeping in mind that there is nothing that puts the brakes on busy schedules like sickness or unfortunately the death of a loved one, we should all determine to have more “get-togethers” in the family. We really have to make the most of the time we have on earth and schedule some family time and what better time to do so than at this festive time of year.

 

Whilst we often focus on giving the best gifts we can find around this Yuletide Season, we should make the extra effort to dig a bit deeper, not necessarily into our pockets, but into our hearts and find out what the majority of our family members would appreciate. If you have a limited number of relatives, then perhaps you could plan a get-together with a close circle of friends. The idea here is to give a gift that will live on in the minds of family members or friends for a long time after. The ultimate goal is to give the gift of “an experience” this Christmas.

 

Well, what exactly does that really mean, you may ask? Well, Author Colin Beavan, in an article entitled “How To Make Your Loved Ones Happier at Christmas”, suggests that individuals should seek to give the gift of “An Experience” at Christmas. His theory is that most of us don’t need any more stuff anyway and there actually isn’t anything we can buy each other that will do what we really want to do – bring our loved ones happiness.

 

Making reference to a paper published in the Journal of Happiness Studies by researchers Tim Kasser of Knox College and Kennon Sheldon of the University of Missouri-Columbia, he noted that the researchers studied the Christmas experiences of 117 individuals and found that people who emphasised time spent with families and meaningful religious or spiritual activities had merrier Christmases.

 

Referring to a book called “Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending” by Elizabeth Dunn, he pointed out, “The trick to a happy, non-consumptive Christmas is not to ignore the expectations of the people you celebrate with, though. Those who expect presents should get them. Gifts, after all, are associated with the exchange of love. The trick is to buy people experiences instead of things. It will actually make them happier.”

 

Focus can be placed on having dinner for two at a special restaurant, getting tickets for a special event, or signing up for membership at a club. The list could go on, but I think everyone gets the picture. Now go ahead and give the gift of an experience this Christmas. Our little nation of Barbados needs families to stick together, grow together, build together and this is indeed the best way to end the year and set things in perspective for the new year to come.