Happiness, Parenting

The True Spirit of Christmas

Over the years, I have struggled with my attitude towards Christmas. In my household as a child, this holiday season did not hold great significance, nor did it not mean a thing. We celebrated every year by seeing family and sharing gifts. But the focus was on our loved ones, not a love for gifts.

But as time went on, I noticed the commercialism of Christmas in society, and how so many people tend to abuse the true spirit of it. Rather than see it as a special time with their family and friends, they are spending thousands of dollars on gifts!

The way my parents raised me was to understand that money does not buy happiness. You don’t need to be spending all this money on others to show them that you love them. Write them a poem, tell others that you love them; those things are much more meaningful than any present could be.

And especially being a mother of 3, I feel it is very important to teach my children the right morals and values. I want them to know that life is not about the material things that you own but the people around you.

I don’t need to buy my children a long list of gifts to prove that I love them. I show it everyday by telling my kids that I love them, taking them to the park, or reading to them their favourite book. I would much rather raise them to be caring and considerate people, than to give them gifts that only provide momentary happiness.

So when you are sitting with your family and friends this Christmas, remember the happiness that you feel as you spend time with your loved ones. And know that by following that feeling of happiness, you are experiencing the TRUE spirit of Christmas.

Thuy Le (formerly known as Thuy Yau) is a freelance writer and Youth Work graduate living in Perth, Australia. She loves to share her own personal experiences about overcoming adversity, as she believes that human beings are more capable than they realise. She writes to make a positive difference in the world and to inspire others to learn from themselves and their own experiences. Her writing has been discussed on radio, won writing contests, appeared on The Huffington Post UK and major Australian sites such as news.com.au, SMH, Kidspot and Essential Kids. She has just completed her first book – a memoir - and is on the search for a publisher.

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