This is the time of the year when when so many people are turning to the holidays for a break in the action.
In some ways, it seems like forever since the holidays were last here. In some ways, it seems like yesterday because the holiday season is so familiar to us all. We see it every year: the lights, the trees, and more than anything else, the advertisements.
Black Friday Sales are no longer on Black Friday: they start closer to Halloween and continue long after Black Friday is over. And Cyber Monday? That begins well before Thanksgiving and it is still going on.
It is especially difficult when finances are tough. Yes, I know, the holidays are not really about spending money, they are about more spiritual things, but there is no way to avoid spending money. After all, your friends and relatives are spending money, sometimes on you, and you feel the need to reciprocate, even if it stretches your budget beyond recognition. And there’s the kids, the grandkids, the nieces and nephews, and does it ever end?
Some of our potential clients spend more on the holidays than is prudent, but surprisingly enough, the more I question most of our potential clients, the more I find they have figured out ways to properly budget. They have not spent a fortune, but still feel that they have significantly contributed to the holiday spirit and have not let down those who are expecting something.
Let’s get rid of the myth that so many clients need our help because they overspent during the holidays. Yes, some do, but under no circumstances does this encompass the majority of our clients. Most of our clients need to file bankruptcy because of a loss of income and often that loss of income has come from medical problems. Sometimes it comes from a loss of hours, or the loss of a job. Sometimes it comes from helping others, including our family members or friends. Tragically, sometimes it is caused by the loss of a spouse or other loved one.
What can we be thankful for? We can be thankful if we have our health, and if our loved ones have their health. We can be thankful for our friends and relatives that we love and who love us. We can especially be thankful that we have been lucky enough to live to see another day, and that we have the possibility of improving our lives or the lives of others. This holiday season, do the best you can to count your blessings. I know, there are so many issues to be concerned about, and if we can help you, we will. But sit back for a minute and think about all that you can be thankful for and think about how you might be able to make someone else’s life better.
If only for a minute, enjoy the holiday season.