'Tis the Season
By: Joe Altieri Click on images to enlarge 
Ok...so the holidays are almost here. Time for everybody to be nice to everybody. I have always had an issue with the fact that people have to set aside the holiday season as the one time in the year that they are kind to others. Shouldn’t we be kind, and giving all year round? I think it’s convenient that the season of celebration and giving falls at the same time of year for most major religions. Works out so that the warm fuzzy feeling can include as many folks as possible…especially the gift buying folks. In keeping with the idea of the Season of Giving, and seeing as how we’re all going to be out there spending our money on nice things for others, I wanted to encourage as many of my riding brothers and sisters to not only take part, but to put some conscious thought into it as well. Every year between Thanksgiving and the New Year there are any number of holiday “toy runs”. Organized rides and gatherings that give motorcycle enthusiasts the chance to get together, enjoy a good ride with friends, and to collect toys and gifts for underprivileged kids around the country. The experience usually includes a gathering of riders, a nice scenic ride, and the donation of new, unwrapped gifts to local charities so that they can in turn give them out to a boy or girl who might otherwise get nothing. Not only do I think it’s important to participate in these types of events, I think it’s important to take your time when choosing your gift. We were all little kids once…we can all remember our favorite toys, the best holiday gift we ever received, and, especially those toys that remained elusive…toys we wanted but never got for one reason or another (for me it was an electric slot car set). When I was about nine years old my brother Marc was only three or four. My mom took Marc to the local bargain store and told him he could choose any gift in the store that he wanted to give as gifts for his older brothers. Marc took his time and chose carefully. He chose gifts that he truly believed, in his little four-year-old heart, his big brothers would like…gifts he would have chosen for himself. He gave these gifts with honesty and love, and I can remember the look on his face, the excitement and anticipation, as he watched us open them. Mine was a small plastic pool table. It was about the size of a paperback book, and came with a set of tiny plastic balls, and two spring loaded pool cues to shoot the balls around the table. It was cheap plastic, and probably cost my mother under a dollar at the time. To this day, it has remained the best holiday gift I ever received. When I shop for others during the holidays, I shop with this in mind; I try to find gifts I truly believe will mean something to the person who receives it, something I would like myself, something that makes me excited to give. So, participate in these holiday rides. Take the time to reap the rewards of giving to others. Take the time to pick out something you’d like if you were a kid, spend the extra couple bucks…you won’t miss them in a week. Choose wisely and from the heart. Your gift could be the best gift a kid gets this year. And then, just to change things up, how ‘bout we be nice to people all year ‘round? Published: Nov 10, 2010 Leave Comments |
|
