Do You Really “Need” the Thing? By: Ryan Robinson
It’s that time of the year again that people open presents, put ornaments on the tree, light up the menorah, etc.; and people get into the holiday mood. However, what really is the focus on the special day you celebrate? Is it Jesus being born? Is it about having enough oil to last eight days? Is there an actual meaning to this time of year or is it reflected on one’s self?
Many people take this time of the year to “catch up” on the popular ladder. Christmas gifts come not from the heart, but to make one popular because they have “the thing”. Or, is it getting the new menorah with special holders because it’s the “new thing” instead of using your Aunt’s. Point is, people can be selfish and self-centered.
I used to know someone in a town not too far from here who was a very nice person. We talked often, and this person was nice, and we hung out together. However, I wasn’t sure if the person was asking for the stuff or the parents got it for him on purpose, but every year, this person would have the “hot item”. While it was cool and I thought that it was nice and all, it really seemed that the item was “Christmas”. No mention about seeing family, no mention about spending time with brothers or sisters, just that “I got this!”.
Items that are bought just for popularity are really not a gift. If it turns out that it is popular, so be it; but by buying an item solely for the purpose of being popular is wrong. It costs money to buy these items normally, and the high-tech ones are not so cheap to get. Personally, while the newest things are great, I would rather get something from the heart. Like this year, one of my items I want is… get this… CD-Rs. Call me crazy, but that’s what I like. I love having the joy of making my grandmother a CD, or a drive CD when we go to the shore. To me, while CD-Rs sound boring and unexciting, it really means something to me and can mean a lot more to someone else as well.
Real gifts are not for a month and are dead for 11 months until next Christmas. Real gifts are those that last a while, maybe forever. Some people don’t get gifts because they can’t afford them, or maybe their gift is staying alive for another year. But, when you give a gift, it shouldn’t be what the fad is of the hour, it should be something that will last a lifetime.
So, when going to Best Buy, Toys R Us, or that “wonderful”, “empty”, “easy-navigable”, “honk-free” , “wait-less” Garden State Plaza (I am being sarcastic there…) ask yourself, “Does this person really “need” the thing?” “Will this satisfy this person for a minute or a year?” While they might wonder why they didn’t get that iTouch or new mp3 player, maybe a computer would be a better option. A computer can be used for games, work, Internet, etc. which would suit the person better and for a longer time when they grow up and get older. The person will thank you in the long run that you didn’t get them “the thing”.
The end of 2009 will enter the next decade with 2010. Let’s try and make it a selfish-free, thankful, giving and caring decade and let the U.S and the world follow suit.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah (and any other holiday I missed),
from Ryan Robinson
PS: Maybe a good gift for this year (2009) would be a snow shovel! We’re gonna need it!