Page 4 - DEC2022

Your Holiday Gift –

JUST BE REAL

By Leanne Hoagland-Smith, M.S.

T he holidays are here! Traveling

through numerous businesses,
one may see holiday decorations
appear before Halloween. For
some including myself, that is
just a tad too early.
Funny, how the holidays have
changed from real trees with pop-
corn and cranberries strung together along with
colorful paper chains to artificial trees and fancy
ornaments. Lighted candles have been replaced with
electric lights. Gifts are now wrapped in glittering
paper or large bags stuffed with tissue paper and
pre-made bows. No longer do we have hand-decorated
gift wrapping from brown paper bags or pieces of
left-over cloth.
Holidays now have a sense of being “artificial”
and yet the essence of these times has not changed.
The holiday season is a time to be real, to connect
with others by giving gifts, invitations for dinners,
and greetings such as “Merry Christmas” and
“Happy New Year”.
Think about the feeling one gets as the holidays
become closer and one hears Christmas carols or
holiday songs. It brings about a change in the
weather and in everyone’s mood. Christmas is a
time when people exude joy. Most are happy and
wish to share that authentic happiness with others.
Of course, for some, this is a sad time to remember
those who we have loved and lost.

4 NBIZ ■ December 2022