Friendliness, kindness, compassion and laughter.....

Warph · December 31, 2008, 02:04:40 PM

After years of glitzy, material-oriented greeting cards, reports the Wall Street Journal, this year's cards are, quote: "sentimental, nostalgic and heartfelt."

Christmas and New Years cards are a big business, you see. Card companies go to elaborate lengths to tune into what people are thinking and feeling. Boy, are people thinking differently this year than last.

During the 2007 Christmas season, consumer excess was in. The trend was to feature stacks of gifts and shopping bags filled with lots of stuff. But this year it's back to the old traditions: cookie-baking, tree trimming, Santa, snowmen, frosted windows, cozy fireplaces, family togetherness and people holding hands.

Even months before the housing bubble burst and the stock market crashed, I read that American Greetings Corp. noticed the new trend. As gas and food prices soared, the optimism of 2007 was quickly giving way to uncertainty about the future.

And now that our financial system has melted down and a recession is in high gear, people -- and, consequently, Christmas cards -- are focusing more on family and friends. They're reminiscing about the good ol' simpler, happier days.

And it's about time, don't you think?

Why is it people have to lose much of what they have before they refocus on the simple, important things that are what really matter in life?

Most of the people I know who grew up during the Depression have told me the same story: that they had no idea they were poor. In the neighborhoods of America's cities, families were together, neighbors were close, people watched out for each other. Life was surely a struggle, but it wasn't without its upsides.

People had fewer choices -- they had less stuff to distract them -- and therefore enjoyed a greater wealth of the spirit. Friendliness, kindness, compassion and laughter were a measure of that wealth.

Those children of the Depression became parents during '50s, '60s and '70s. By their measure, they enjoyed tremendous economic good fortune during their adult years -- stability, modest homes, the ability to provide for their families and save enough dough to retire.

My father worked hard to bring home money while my mother stayed home to watch over us and conserve money. We never had the material things we thought we wanted, but we had an abundance of everything we needed -- love, togetherness and parents who sacrificed everything so we could go to college and do well in life.

My brother, sisters and I are doing well in life and every day my parents were alive, they enjoyed huge dividends on their investment -- just as millions of parents from that era have done.

That brings us to the children who grew up during the '50s, 60s and 70s. As an adult, during the last 40 years, I've enjoyed a period of unimaginable financial wealth, though there were times I didn't managed it very well.

I think of so many single people in Washington, D.C., where I lived for a number of years, who drive BMW's and live in luxury condos completely isolated from family. Or the parents who work long hours to lavish their kids with money, clothes and cars -- when all their kids really want or need are their presence and their love.

Too many of us in recent times have had everything we think we want, but so little of what we really need. Well, much of our material wealth is gone now -- but gone with it is the noise, distraction and isolation material wealth can bring. I have found that the older one gets, the less material things one needs.

And so, as this year's Christmas cards suggest, we are finally getting back to our senses.
We're longing for the simpler, more traditional times of our childhood -- when our parents lived within their means, always planned for a rainy day and retained a clear sense of what was and wasn't important in life.

I remember sitting around the tree on Christmas morning surrounded by my parents, my brother and three sisters, our dog Maggie and a handful of modest gifts -- while all of us were immersed in laughter, togetherness, security and love.

Now there's an idea for a Christmas card.

...........Warph

Jo McDonald · December 31, 2008, 03:47:10 PM

Warph, you just described my growing up years. We were poor by the monetary standards, but we were surely rich in the love of family and friends. My sister and I were just talking on the telephone and this very subject was what we were talking about. We were born and raised on a farm - so obviously there was not much money for any "extras" but the memories are all great. I am saddened by all that this recession is going to do to many families, and also saddened by the fact that so many will not know how to deal with it.
May God bless each and everyone during these trying times, and may we all come through it, and be better because of it.

Happy New Year to everyone.

Jo

debid · December 31, 2008, 05:46:50 PM

Our family quit Christmas last year. We get together, we have a lovely meal, and spend a great time together. Christmas had become something we all dreaded because it was so stressful and expensive.

pam · December 31, 2008, 06:23:54 PM

Y'know.....I'm glad to hear people are startin to see stuff doesn't matter but some of us have always had the sense to know it doesn't, some people have ALWAYS valued the family and friend times more than the stuff. Some people have been looked down on for bein "sentimental saps" ........now you're sayin it's gonna be "cool"? Imagine that........

Warph · January 01, 2009, 07:19:52 AM

Quote from: pam on December 31, 2008, 06:23:54 PM
Y'know.....I'm glad to hear people are startin to see stuff doesn't matter but some of us have always had the sense to know it doesn't, some people have ALWAYS valued the family and friend times more than the stuff. Some people have been looked down on for bein "sentimental saps" ........now you're sayin it's gonna be "cool"? Imagine that........

"Cool?" Define "cool."

flo · January 01, 2009, 09:24:25 AM

as someone who became a parent during the 50's and 60's and raised my children during the 60's, 70's and 80's, I can define "cool". It's a word from that era which means it is "great" that people are realizing what she was raised to know all along. That "stuff and things" come and go, but "family, values, and friends (true friends)" are here for your lifetime. And I personally feel it's about time. I mentioned in another thread that gift giving was minimal at my house this year. It was the girls' idea. Their feeling was that Christmas is not about "presents", it's about the birth of our Savior, and Families getting together and enjoying the holiday. I agreed with them and am one proud parent. Guess I done something right, and that's "cool".

sixdogsmom · January 01, 2009, 10:53:37 AM

What she said, both of 'em!

pam · January 01, 2009, 11:28:10 AM

Quote from: Warph on January 01, 2009, 07:19:52 AM
Quote from: pam on December 31, 2008, 06:23:54 PM
Y'know.....I'm glad to hear people are startin to see stuff doesn't matter but some of us have always had the sense to know it doesn't, some people have ALWAYS valued the family and friend times more than the stuff. Some people have been looked down on for bein "sentimental saps" ........now you're sayin it's gonna be "cool"? Imagine that........

"Cool?" Define "cool."

Moms right.

I also meant that for many years people who didnt jump on the keepin up with the neighbors bandwagon, or didnt spend too much money on "things" like clothes because of whos name was on them was looked down on by all the people who decided that THAT was how you measured success in their world. "Ooooh, Louis Vitton! Gucci! Mercedes! playstation 47! Big boats, big houses, big trucks that never get off pavement, the "right" schools, the "right" clothes, the "right" neighborhood, the "right" job, the "right" friends, and now they are losin it all, findin out they really could've done with much less, really could have spent more time than money on their kids and had happier kids, so now it's gonna be "right" cool whatever and I'm sayin we already knew that and don't need greeting cards or to be part of the new "trend" towards the simple life cause we are already there. I'm just human enough to let it piss me off a little.
Because now they'll take "the simple life" to extremes just like everything else they grab ahold of.....environmentalism, animal rights, etc. I'll just be over here with my garden, my natural fertilizer, chemical free land, only take what I need philosophy and my horses I've had for years and my kids and grandkids I taught and am teachin the same values I learned...for years....watchin em screw this up too.

greatguns · January 01, 2009, 12:32:45 PM

Pam, ain't it the truth!

bfrankjack · January 01, 2009, 10:09:24 PM

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. I love baking bread and cookies for my friends, sending out cards to my family and friends. I love giving something to the ones that I care about. My family has traditions just like all of you here on the forum. So it looks like we are ahead of the pack in what iis now the "in thing" but ya know we will be the same when the others have moved on to something new. So Good For Us. We are Friendly and Kind we do have Compassion and we enjoy Laughter. Last time I checked all 4 of these things where FREE and best celebrated with friends and family. One more thing I am crazy about Christmas Lights!