Wouldn't you know it, it's just 71 days before Christmas 2004. While a lot of people are getting less and less excited about the coming holidays, it's still something we can look forward to. Yep, life's not about to get any easier. With the new round of oil price hikes, even the LTO filed for increase in rates.
But life has to go on. And as the swatch jingle said about two years ago, Christmas is forever. I can't speak for other people but I have to keep reminding myself that there are a lot of things to be thankful for. And while having plenty of bonuses and money are great, they're not exactly the meaning of the season. It's easy to get lost in all the hullaballoo about having this and that, otherwise, it's not going to feel like Christmas. There were so many Christmases I felt the same. But one thing about cutting myself off completely from the family financial-wise for so many years now is that you don't hanker for stuff that much.
I have to admit I'm getting more mature in saying that in growing older, Christmas means more about giving than getting. Of course, I worked hard for the rest of the year so I'd expect to get some sort of payback. But that is something I want to be able to give to others. Not to sound like I'm patronizing my own self or raising my own chair, but I found out that for so many things I take for granted, a lot of people hanker for them. And that oftentimes, it takes so little to make people happy. Despite what the media often says, it's not just about the money, or material stuff, even in what is touted to be a highly-materialistic world. It's the company of friends and family that really matters, not the food nor the ornate stuff. It's the smile of people you greet and treat, not the lavish partying that matters more.
