With the weather growing colder and December getting underway most are beginning to focus on the holiday season. With this comes holiday shopping. In addition to Black Friday, Christmas shopping extends throughout all of this month. Mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers, almost anyone can be found flocking the mall and other stores looking for the right gift.

  Despite the terrible stress that this season creates, money tends to be wasted on materialistic things that the receiver may not even want. When it comes down to it, we need to think about what is really worth it.

  Gift giving has become such a norm in our society, that we have forgotten the true meaning of the holidays. The holiday season should be focused on quality time spent with family and friends and should be taken as a chance to reflect on how fortunate we are.

  A lot of the blame for forgetting about all of this goes to the retail stores for all of their sales, discounts, and emails that tempt you to come in to do your holiday shopping. They flood our brains, convincing us that we need to take advantage of all the deals.

  I am guilty of spending too much time worrying over what to get my friends and family. After going back

and forth between all of the options in stores, it is almost impossible for me to decide and I usually leave

frustrated and needing to come back again.

 Although I think it is important to give in order to show how much we care about one another, we can’t let it stress us out too much so that we are unable to appreciate the time we should be celebrating with loved ones.

  “If done correctly, giving gifts should enhance the true meaning of Christmas and the holidays. If

people get worried about how much people are spending or if they like the gift or not, it can take away from the holiday spirit. But if everyone enjoys family and appreciates every-thing they get, then the true meaning of Christmas will be enjoyed,” English teacher Russell Crist said.

 By taking all of this time to buy for one another, we lose the time to be grateful for everything we do have. I think there can be a healthy medium between purchasing loads of gifts and not buying any. If everyone can find that medium, holiday spirit will be able to be enjoyed by all.

   A healthy medium could be as simple as a homemade gift or even the gift of an experience, such as going to see a movie together.  In my opinion, any nice gift that you think the receiver will enjoy is

always appropriate. This is, as long as it is in your price limit.

During this time of year, I encourage everyone to spend their time giving to others, but also reflecting and enjoying what you have. Buy gifts for your family and friends, it is important to give to others and show your thanks, but do so in moderation so the true meaning of the holidays can be appreciated as well.