I'm a fan of Michael Josephson. He just seems to consistently hit the nail on the head...
Will this be a good Christmas?
To lots of kids, the answer may be embedded in the response to the question: “Whaddja get?”
On the other hand, retailers and Wall Street investors will look to sales and profits.
What a pity that the spiritual and social potential of this holiday can be so easily lost.
Of course, Christmas is a profoundly important day of worship to devout Christians, so a “good” Christmas must include a meaningful religious connection with the teachings of Jesus.
But for many Christians and non-Christians, there are other dimensions to this day.
In fact, Christmas is more than a single day; it’s a season involving weeks of preparation and celebration devoted to family, friendships and, most important of all, a grand vision of “peace on earth and goodwill toward men.”
To me, a good Christmas is one that helps us become better people so we can have better lives and a better society.
On a personal level, the optimism, good cheer, and goodwill embodied in the Christmas spirit are antidotes to selfishness and superficiality. They can help us find purpose and meaning in love, kindness, charity, gratitude, and forgiveness.
On a social level, a good Christmas is one where we can say we’ve made meaningful progress combating homelessness, hunger, and poverty. It would also be a good Christmas if we truly overcame the fears, suspicions, and prejudices that may be hindering our expression of goodwill to all men, regardless of their ethnicity, national origin, or personal religion.
So regardless of your religion, I hope you’ll make this Christmas a good one.
-Michael Josephson
In a society preoccupied with the quest for material possessions, it’s easy to overlook the fact that our most valuable possessions are our best memories.
Good memories are a form of wealth. They are not simply something we own, they become part of who we are. Through our memories we can literally re-live and re-experience past pleasures.
So, if you want to give a gift that truly keeps on giving, use the opportunities of holiday gatherings to give good memories.
And don’t overemphasize the importance of gifts. Sure, an especially thoughtful gift may create an enduring memory, but most of our best memories have nothing to do with the presents we receive.
What we remember are the feelings, sounds, smells and tastes of the entire holiday celebration.
You can’t buy great memories in the mall or online. The experience of receiving a gift delivered by FedEx and opened in private can never rival the pleasure of anticipation, guessing, and unwrapping mysterious boxes in the presence of gift-givers who are equally excited.
Think about the atmosphere you want to create. Celebrate old traditions and create new ones — about the food you prepare, the music you play, the gift-giving rituals you adopt, and how you decorate the Christmas tree or light the Hanukkah candles.
And involve children whenever possible. No matter how corny or annoying kids think a family tradition is, it’s almost certain that those homemade experiences will be among their most treasured memories.
-Michael Josephson
According to legend, a desert wanderer discovered a spring of cool, crystal-clear water. It tasted so good, he filled a leather container with the precious liquid so he could bring it to the king. After a long journey, he presented his gift to the king, who drank it with great pleasure and lavishly thanked the wanderer, who went away with a happy heart.
The king’s son tasted the water and spit it out. It had picked up the smell of the old leather canteen and had become foul. The boy asked his father why he pretended to like the awful-tasting water.The king said, “Son, that man gave me a gift from his heart. It wasn’t the water I enjoyed; it was the sweet taste of his generosity. When someone gives you something with genuine love, the thing given is simply the container. The real gift is the thought inside.”
The wisdom of the king’s insight is best experienced when we get a gift from a child who loves us. Whether it’s a ceramic tray, a macaroni pin, or a crayon drawing, the purity of the child’s sweet intentions generates a form of joy we call gratitude.
Yet in most other settings we receive gifts without experiencing genuine appreciation. Consequently, our “thank yous” are simply ritualistic courtesies. One reason is we’re conditioned to value gifts based on their cost. Another is that gifts are often given to meet an obligation or as a form of investment rather than as expressions of generous affection.
Wouldn’t the holidays be so more joyous if we gave and received gifts as if they really were the thought that counts?
-Michael Josephson
Will this be a good Christmas?
To lots of kids, the answer may be embedded in the response to the question: “Whaddja get?”
On the other hand, retailers and Wall Street investors will look to sales and profits.
What a pity that the spiritual and social potential of this holiday can be so easily lost.
Of course, Christmas is a profoundly important day of worship to devout Christians, so a “good” Christmas must include a meaningful religious connection with the teachings of Jesus.
But for many Christians and non-Christians, there are other dimensions to this day.
In fact, Christmas is more than a single day; it’s a season involving weeks of preparation and celebration devoted to family, friendships and, most important of all, a grand vision of “peace on earth and goodwill toward men.”
To me, a good Christmas is one that helps us become better people so we can have better lives and a better society.
On a personal level, the optimism, good cheer, and goodwill embodied in the Christmas spirit are antidotes to selfishness and superficiality. They can help us find purpose and meaning in love, kindness, charity, gratitude, and forgiveness.
On a social level, a good Christmas is one where we can say we’ve made meaningful progress combating homelessness, hunger, and poverty. It would also be a good Christmas if we truly overcame the fears, suspicions, and prejudices that may be hindering our expression of goodwill to all men, regardless of their ethnicity, national origin, or personal religion.
So regardless of your religion, I hope you’ll make this Christmas a good one.
-Michael Josephson
In a society preoccupied with the quest for material possessions, it’s easy to overlook the fact that our most valuable possessions are our best memories.
Good memories are a form of wealth. They are not simply something we own, they become part of who we are. Through our memories we can literally re-live and re-experience past pleasures.
So, if you want to give a gift that truly keeps on giving, use the opportunities of holiday gatherings to give good memories.
And don’t overemphasize the importance of gifts. Sure, an especially thoughtful gift may create an enduring memory, but most of our best memories have nothing to do with the presents we receive.
What we remember are the feelings, sounds, smells and tastes of the entire holiday celebration.
You can’t buy great memories in the mall or online. The experience of receiving a gift delivered by FedEx and opened in private can never rival the pleasure of anticipation, guessing, and unwrapping mysterious boxes in the presence of gift-givers who are equally excited.
Think about the atmosphere you want to create. Celebrate old traditions and create new ones — about the food you prepare, the music you play, the gift-giving rituals you adopt, and how you decorate the Christmas tree or light the Hanukkah candles.
And involve children whenever possible. No matter how corny or annoying kids think a family tradition is, it’s almost certain that those homemade experiences will be among their most treasured memories.
-Michael Josephson
According to legend, a desert wanderer discovered a spring of cool, crystal-clear water. It tasted so good, he filled a leather container with the precious liquid so he could bring it to the king. After a long journey, he presented his gift to the king, who drank it with great pleasure and lavishly thanked the wanderer, who went away with a happy heart.
The king’s son tasted the water and spit it out. It had picked up the smell of the old leather canteen and had become foul. The boy asked his father why he pretended to like the awful-tasting water.The king said, “Son, that man gave me a gift from his heart. It wasn’t the water I enjoyed; it was the sweet taste of his generosity. When someone gives you something with genuine love, the thing given is simply the container. The real gift is the thought inside.”
The wisdom of the king’s insight is best experienced when we get a gift from a child who loves us. Whether it’s a ceramic tray, a macaroni pin, or a crayon drawing, the purity of the child’s sweet intentions generates a form of joy we call gratitude.
Yet in most other settings we receive gifts without experiencing genuine appreciation. Consequently, our “thank yous” are simply ritualistic courtesies. One reason is we’re conditioned to value gifts based on their cost. Another is that gifts are often given to meet an obligation or as a form of investment rather than as expressions of generous affection.
Wouldn’t the holidays be so more joyous if we gave and received gifts as if they really were the thought that counts?
-Michael Josephson
