Giving Joyfully: Alternatives to Black Friday & Reducing the Stress of the Perfect Gift!

With all the stories in the news today, Black Friday, expressing the ends to which people will go towards getting that “good deal,” let’s take a serious look at the facts:

• Gas money spent, at well over $3 a gallon: wasting resources.
• Getting up in the middle of the night: wasting your resting time.
• Standing in lines: wasting your emotional well being.
• Risking danger: just a total waste to put your life at risk.
• Over spending: in this economy we can’t afford to make impulse buys, a waste of your money.

Solutions?

When making holiday gifting decisions, think first!

• Think about your family and friends, the most precious resource. Save gas and stay home with them, enjoy the time you have to spend with them. Bring back the memories, or make new ones.
• Think about the holiday itself. You’ve just spent a wonderful day (Thanksgiving) preparing and eating a meal gathered among those you love giving thanks for your many blessings. Let that experience flow over the coming days instead of rushing into another holiday.
• Think about yourself. The emotional stress of the holidays can be debilitating to some. Vow to make this year different. Simple shifts in your daily process can make a big difference in how you are emotionally. Take the time to be good to YOU first, then think about gift giving. The greatest gift is the gift of your love.
• Think about your bank account. Black Friday deals are not a “deal” if you can’t afford them.

Suggestions!

• Start right here at ImaginePublicity!

We represent several authors, and we all know that books make great gifts! With authors like Diane Fanning, Dennis McDougal, Dennis Griffin, Burl Barer, Dirk Wales, Susan Murphy Milano, Gayle Crabtree, Dawn Schiller, Jillian Maas Backman, April Claxton, Pamela Chapman, Dr. Laurie Roth, Lavinia Masters, Danielle Pierre, Sheryl McCollum, Sandra L. Brown, Ward Foley, Robert McDowell and Vito Colucci, Jr., there are books galore to choose from! And watch for a new book coming out from Lisa Michels, along with new feature columns by Donna Gore, Legal Analyst, Holly Hughes, and Susie Kroll!

• Donate your gift dollars to worthwhile charities whose efforts last all year long, the gift that keeps on giving.

CUE Center for Missing Persons, and all reputable missing persons organizations, operate on donations and volunteers. Consider it a gift to thousands of families with missing loved ones all over the country. Foundations like the Petit Family Foundation, often set up by family members who have survived tragedy, carry on by providing resources for other survivors in similar situations. (Check locally or nationally into all non-profit status before donating.)

• Shop online in one of the several sites that carry handmade items.

Consider individual artisans for jewelry, art, photography, candles and household items. Instead of profits going to big, uncaring corporations, put your money straight into the hands of those who lovingly manufacture quality items.

• Shop with companies whose profits are steered towards the improvement of lives globally.

Deal with those whose mission is fair trade and, as the mission of Ten Thousand Villages: “One day all artisans in the developing countries will earn a fair wage, be treated with dignity and respect and be able to live a life of quality.”

• Do something for yourself.

Whether you take a self-defense course from Anny Jacoby, a life transformation session with Danielle Pierre, or an intuitive session withJillian Maas Backman, you are improving upon who you are, mentally, physically and spiritually, well on your way to a balanced person.

• Volunteer your time.

There are way too many lonely people in the world, and especially during the holiday season, lift their spirits, put a song in their hearts, and show them the true meaning of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Whether it be a nursing home, hospital, or homeless shelter, the lonely are never lonelier than now. Give the gift of JOY!

• An area of concern during the holidays is victim’s services.

Many will spend their holiday in a domestic violence shelter, arriving with nothing. Check your local agencies for their immediate needs and to learn more about how to connect with victims, go to Courage Network founded by Lyn Twyman. Another wonderful non-profit isHopeforHealing.Org founded by Gayle Crabtree, and if you’re in the aftermath of a bad relationship, perhaps you will benefit learning from Sandra L. Brown, the CEO of The Institute for Relational Harm Reduction. If you know someone who is in a volatile situation, give the gift of life from Susan Murphy Milano, the book, Time’s Up: How to Safely Leave an Abusive and Stalking Relationship.

Take it upon yourself to use your search engines to find specific ideas that suit your circumstances.

The holiday season does not have to be the stressful search for the perfect gift, it’s right there inside of you, just give it!

FILED UNDER AUTHORS, BLACK FRIDAY, BOOKS, CUE CENTER FOR MISSING PERSONS, DONATIONS, GIFT SUGGESTIONS, INTUITIVE SESSIONS,JOYFULLY GIVING, LIFE TRANSFORMATION, PETIT FAMILY FOUNDATION, REDUCING STRESS, SELF-DEFENSE, SOLUTIONS, TEN THOUSAND VILLAGES, VOLUNTEERS,

www.imaginepublicity.com