Hanukkah* is here; Christmas is about to arrive, which means new things to replace the old under the tree and around the menorah.
In the spirit of not just getting, but giving, today's guest contributor, Jean Long Manteufel, owner of Long Moving (a North American Van Lines moving company) specializing in senior transition services, and author of www.TransitionsWithJean.com blog, introduces an annual "re-gifting" idea that can become the happiest part of your holiday season.
Make Box-It Day Your New Holiday Tradition
In the spirit of not just getting, but giving, today's guest contributor, Jean Long Manteufel, owner of Long Moving (a North American Van Lines moving company) specializing in senior transition services, and author of www.TransitionsWithJean.com blog, introduces an annual "re-gifting" idea that can become the happiest part of your holiday season.
Make Box-It Day Your New Holiday Tradition
Over the years, people get new goodies at the holidays. But, when we get new things, we don’t take the old items out. It goes on year after year, until one day, we have so much stuff that we don’t know what to do with it all.
Keeping stuff is a habit - one that started when we were little kids. The kids already have so many toys, that it is a big job when Mom tells them to clean their room; we have tons of sweaters, ties, pajamas, and more. After the holidays, they will have even more things to pick up; we will have even more stuff, unless….
We could start a new tradition, you and me. For every new gift we get for Christmas, let’s put something in a box. We’ll fill the box and give it to people who aren’t as blessed as we are.
Keeping stuff is a habit - one that started when we were little kids. The kids already have so many toys, that it is a big job when Mom tells them to clean their room; we have tons of sweaters, ties, pajamas, and more. After the holidays, they will have even more things to pick up; we will have even more stuff, unless….
We could start a new tradition, you and me. For every new gift we get for Christmas, let’s put something in a box. We’ll fill the box and give it to people who aren’t as blessed as we are.
In Canada, Australia, England, and Ireland, there is a holiday called Boxing Day. It is December 26, the day after Christmas. It’s called Boxing Day because the kings and lords used to box up their Christmas left-overs and give them to their serfs and the poor.
Lets borrow from their idea; we also will do it on December 26, but let’s call it Box-It Day.
It’s easy. Get a box, then when your grandkids get all of their new toys, remember, before they put them away, let’s put some old toys into that box, so they can give them to other kids; take your things like old shoes and books, and put them in the box.
Then, on Box-It Day, let’s go together and deliver them to Goodwill or St. Vincent de Paul or wherever. You pick. It is a good feeling.
It isn’t easy to let go of things that you’ve enjoyed. But on the days that we are getting new things, let’s let go of some of the old.
We are so lucky. We have so much. Let’s share.
Lets borrow from their idea; we also will do it on December 26, but let’s call it Box-It Day.
It’s easy. Get a box, then when your grandkids get all of their new toys, remember, before they put them away, let’s put some old toys into that box, so they can give them to other kids; take your things like old shoes and books, and put them in the box.
Then, on Box-It Day, let’s go together and deliver them to Goodwill or St. Vincent de Paul or wherever. You pick. It is a good feeling.
It isn’t easy to let go of things that you’ve enjoyed. But on the days that we are getting new things, let’s let go of some of the old.
We are so lucky. We have so much. Let’s share.
What a terrific idea, Jean - I'm starting this year!
Before I go, here's one more nifty gifts idea for those living with disabilities...
You have been officially alerted.
*Correction: I was duly enlightened by our Jewish listeners that I was off by one on the dates for Hanukkah; it began at sundown on the 16th, not the 17th as I stated last week.
Sorry about that, and Happy Hanukkah!
Sorry about that, and Happy Hanukkah!
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