Pay Attention This Christmas

Lately I have been seeing the importance of paying attention to things spoken and unspoken. Too many people around us are struggling and suffering in silence. Many don’t know who to turn to and are at their wits end.

What is it about paying attention? For me it is being present when we are around people. It’s processing that conversation we overhear and recognising the cry for help even when it’s just a whisper.

Christmas is a time when this is even more important. We can get caught up in all the hype that some people associate with christmas.

Too many of us are distracted by the gifts and food shopping frenzies, with some overindulging readying themselves to start a new year with debts they can do without.

One question we must all ask is, ‘what is Christmas really about?’ It’s a time that we are reminded of the greatest gift ever given to mankind and that is the gift of love, redemption and hope.

So for every gift we consider and every interaction we have, are the words love, redemption and hope applicable? Or do the words greed, indulgence, carelessness, burdens and waste better describe the choices we are making at this time?

Perhaps during this Christmas we simply ought to rethink our choices and set ourselves, families and the world up for a better future.

There are some headlines floating around under the radar of the usual festive rush – headlines such as how many elderly people will be alone this Christmas or the fact that domestic violence, stress and financial pressures are always at a high during Christmas. Are we paying attention to them?

People sadly and sometimes unwisely put themselves under the pressure of trying to please their children, family and friends beyond what they can afford. The question is why?

Why are we so afraid of saying no, staying within what is a reasonable budget, or thinking that it is an offence not to indulge someone? Why are we raising children who will someday struggle to know the meaning of sacrifice or living within their means?

Why must we stuff our faces with food and spend the first week of the new year stressed about the unwanted weight gain? Why don’t we ask these key questions before the damages are done?

We must all ponder on these things.

So for this Christmas, firstly, I am suggesting that we rethink all the plans we have and start by paying attention – to the real needs of those around us, to the less fortunate, to the changes we need to make personally and professionally, and to the habits we need to break.

Secondly, why don’t you do something this Christmas that your future self will thank you for. This could be a dream you’ve left on the back burner ages ago, it might be that job application that you’ve put on hold or that risk you’re too afraid to take. Perhaps it’s a relationship that you need to mend or apology that you need to make.

Project six months, one year or even five years into the future, what would you be glad you did this Christmas? What gamble do you need to take knowing fully well that it might just pay off?

Finally, my third suggestion is that you come up with gifts that speak of love, redemption and hope but doesn’t break your budget. I dare you to even make it cash-free gifts. How about re-purposing something that’s already in your possession?

This could be as simple as making time to have a cuppa with someone or bake for your friends and work colleagues. You will find that love, at least the real deal, doesn’t have to financially cost an arm and a leg.

Instead the cost will often involve laying down yourself, your pride, position, agendas, ambitions, convenience and definitely some of your time. Good thing is none of these will break the bank.

So as we count down to Christmas, take a moment to pay attention to how you can truly make this the most magical Christmas ever. Make it one that in three or more year’s time, you will be glad that you did the things that you did.

Have a great week and countdown to a wonderful Christmas. Thanks for reading and sharing my post with others.