2014 Holiday Guide: Guest column: A stocking full of wishes or stuff

Guest column: A stocking full of wishes or stuff
By Janet Janssen
The holiday season is here. First, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, then Christmas. In a few weeks comes 2015, another New Year, Super Bowl Sunday and lots of promises.
New stuff, new hopes, new goals. Something like that.
All of my friends and colleagues are struck with the phenomena of how fast time flies. We are all faced with busy schedules, having to work in order to pay bills to pay for that new stuff.
More importantly, we recognize we want to stress less, be better, and do better. I believe we all desire to proclaim our personal power and make a difference in our lifetimes.
So then, I am asking Santa for a stocking full of wishes, for me and you.
Ask anyone on the street and we are all keenly aware of today’s local and world issues. It feels so overwhelming because what can we do to fix those water hike increases, stop local crime, deal with increased taxes, and pay more to get fewer health benefits?
Escapism helps.
One way is to watch more TV. After all, ‘tis the season for buying lots of stuff. Getting new stuff is a great blues fixer-upper. Show me a shiny new car, pretty, and happy faces and you can sell me anything.
With envy, I look at those texting fools enjoying the newest techno devices, in hot new clothes — “I want one of those.”
We know the message. I will be happier with my new stuff. I don’t have to worry or fix anything, just get new stuff. As a kid, I expected new stuff and as an adult, I confess to still wanting more new stuff. What can I do?
I recall seeing a few pictures that circulated in Facebook. A young girl is complaining because she got the wrong color and didn’t like her new tech gizmo. Another girl, in another country, is ecstatic because she is wearing a pair of sandals made from plastic coke bottles?
This picture stopped me cold. I didn’t know it then, but it planted the seed for this article.
Living in Santa Cruz County since 1990, I love this region and its people. I love it here because I believe we are more socially conscious and proactive about issues and concerns that matter.
But, like any human with a brain, I can be tempted with psychological marketing spins that advertising capitalizes on. In the field of neuroscience, it is a fact that our brains love colors, shapes and shiny new things.
As a business entrepreneur myself, it is fun to come up with creative taglines that help to clarify why you should use my service over someone else.
I have watched and read many of our local merchants advertising messages for their goods and services, too.
We can be clever so that the “public-at-large” will remember us and buy our goods. And, nothing is wrong with that. We are living the American Dream.
But, I am proposing that we can get lost in the sea of “buy me.” By simply walking into any store or turning on the TV, the signage, colors, decorations, smells, and bite-sized messages, can activate my inner “get new stuff” addict.
So, it is up to me to draw the line and save my pocketbook and sanity. I can proclaim my personal power and make a difference in my life now.
So then, I offer you my stocking full of wishes:
– Like drinking alcohol, shop and buy responsibly.
– If you have to charge it, add 18 to 25 percent more to that price tag.
– Think about stocking stuffer gifts. Getting 20 little gifts tricks the brain into thinking, “Look how much I got!”
– Think creative. I like buying used books. In fact, if you want to save the planet and recycle, buy used products. We got a 55-inch TV by purchasing an opened-box product. It wasn’t broken. Someone opened the box and said “I don’t want it,” and then returned it.
– I shop for $10 gifts, and then add a candle or candy or a charm. Even better, add a personal note that says, “Free car wash.” That is worth at least $25!
– Make stuff. Make it family affair. Make a family vision board. This is a great way to uncover those inner dreams and wishes put into pictures that may reflect possible goals to achieve.
– Don’t spend more money than you have. Spend more on how much love you can give.
I could go on and on, but I want to leave room in the stocking for your wishes. Be creative. Play more, love more and give of you more not more stuff. After all this is truly the meaning of life.
And, Happy New Year!
– Felton resident Janet Janssen is a coach, speaker, and author who focuses on helping individuals and business teams turn their roadblocks into high-performance outcomes. For more information, visit www.janetjanssen.com.