Still haven’t bought the Christmas or secret friend (hidden) gift? Did you leave everything for the last minute, including supper? Give a boost to neighborhood trade and services, which made a difference while the pandemic confined us to the home. There will hardly be a neighbor who makes panettone, bonbons, Christmas baskets, handicrafts or other souvenirs to present to family, friends and colleagues.
Hire a motoboy, app driver or taxi driver in the vicinity, deliver the gift list with the addresses, and help those who need to work to earn extra this time of year.
At the thrift store or handicraft fair, you can find a unique gift, with charm and utility. What matters is not the price, the brand, but the memory of that loved one. And there are also hairdressers, barbershops and other similar establishments, to invest in the look.
And if you can afford it, do some end-of-year kindnesses to those people who, without fanfare, helped make your life better in 2022. Start with the building staff, who are by your side every month of the year. And to the service providers that many don’t even say hello to, but who transport us, fix things, fill up the car, triage those who arrive at the emergency room.
Not everyone will be able to celebrate Christmas and New Year in abundance. But they will be happier if they are remembered, at least once a year. And if possible, it’s still time to donate money to an institution that fights against all difficulties to help the most vulnerable.
Many celebrate Christmas due to religious belief. It would be coherent, then, to follow the birthday boy’s teachings, which dealt with love of neighbor, forgiveness and humility.
Yes, the middle class already pays mountains of taxes to governments to improve people’s lives. But, I’m sorry, that’s not enough. Empathy is not fulfilling our fiscal and tax obligations. It’s seeing others and their problems as if they happened to us and the people we love the most.
Fernando Pessoa said that the Tagus was more beautiful than the river that flowed through his village, but, at the same time, it wasn’t more beautiful, because it wasn’t the river in his village.
The world only gets better when we get better. It may be very little, but it gets better.
Merry Christmas!
I have over 10 years of experience working in the news industry. I have worked for several different news organizations, including a large news website like News Bulletin 247. I am an expert in the field of economics and have written several books on the subject. I am a highly skilled writer and editor, and have a strong knowledge of social media. I am a highly respected member of the news industry, and my work has been featured in many major publications.
