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Holiday balance - A different perspective

With the holiday season upon us there are many balancing acts on our minds. Some are trying to balance their work time with their family time, others the desire to offer gifts with the possible financial constraints and others the prospect of being lonely and sad when everyone else is with the family and rejoicing.

There is another dimension to this balancing act. It is balancing the general holiday spirit with ones personal and/or religious beliefs.

The wonderful gift of this country to its citizens is that we are all part of the big one – the proverbial melting

Christmas

With Christmas having taken on an almost commercial aspect it is easy to forget that it is a religious holiday, celebrated by many but not by all. There are many little balancing acts that happen to those in the minority: what do you say when someone wishes you Merry Christmas, should you attend Christmas parties, are the general festivities religious or not?

The biggest balancing act is explaining it all to the children, whose biggest goal in life is to fit in with their peers. For minority parents in oppressed countries the challenge is to deal with oppression. The challenge for the minority parents, who are blessed to be in this country, is to deal with the freedoms it offers. Raising the children to be true to their heritage and religion is indeed a hard balancing act.

How does one reconcile the pull and the push of wanting to belong, yet standing fast in your own convictions? One way is to make a positive contribution to the majority, being in the minority. What do I mean by this? Here is one small example: choosing to volunteer on Holidays you do not celebrate, working shifts that will allow those celebrating their holiday to do so, using the Holiday days off for contributing to others.

Kwanza

The Holiday time give us another opportunity to appreciate and teach our children the great gift of freedom. It is also an opportunity to appreciate and teach our children the importance to stand strong for your beliefs and convictions whether they are professional, religious, or moral.

Hannukah

At the end of the Holiday balancing act there is a tremendous opportunity for all to have a happy and free life. This is the idea I will celebrate any time.

Celebrate

Posted by Faina Sechzer - Princeton, Montgomery, Hopewell, NJ Real Estate Expert on 11/14/2007 10:16 PM

Comments (20)

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20 Comments on Holiday balance - A different perspective

NOV

2007

dibs..be right back. :)

Faina: This post as all the other entries are very meaningful and have given not just me but everyone reading a different perspective with ALL positive twists. Somewhere somehow these posts are helping someone.

It may be a religious holiday (I have my own beliefs as well) although I jump right in to celebrate anyway. The "holidays" also include Thanksgiving...and it certainly is a time to give thanks and a time for giving. You gave your heart, your soul and your inspiration and positive message...and I thank you.

Oh shoot Sally got here first :( just kidding.

Faina- You touched on something dear to my heart....the acceptance of others, and how to manage during the Holidays if you have different beliefs......I know I do not get "Merry Christmas Cards" as I have no idea what Religion, if any, my clients might be. Holidays...that is pretty safe, as most of the larger religions/cultures have some sort of celebration during this months time that it seems safe enough not to offend.

I think your idea of volunteering to work during another's day of celebration is a wonderful way to support your friends, and/or co-workers. Thank you for a fresh perspective on the Holidays.......

Kathy - you just always have the right words for this girl. How do you do it?:)

We actually do what I "preach" and work on days that are major holidays for others, so they wouldn't have to. This approach has many rewards. Thanks for your always "positive attitude for the weary soul".

Sally - I thought you will come back to tell me I missed the deadline :).

This AR thing has been having a very strange effect on me, just when I think I am all but "posted out" (forgive the newly invented word) -out comes another post:)

On a serious note - I have put my heart and soul into this. I am glad there are people like you here who can relate to it. Thanks.

Faina- We live in a country where the majority is supposed to be the norm and that the minority is respected and accepted. However, the past few years this has not been the case. The majority, those celebrating Christmas were being sued and certain groups demanded that Christmas trees be taken down, the manger be thrown away, no Christmas music to be played in the Malls and not Merry Christmas signs be placed in stores, etc. Well, Walmart and Target really lost their shirts going along with the politically correct side against the majority who also were the people buying merchandise during the Christmas season. So needless to say, I used my free right to choose and chose not to shop at any store that did not have a Merry Christmas sign or decorations.

I am happy to say that in this instance the majority did prevail just as it should and Target and Walmart this year are all ringing in with Christmas music, songs, Santa Clauses, Hanukka Minora candles, the Star Of David, etc.

I am proud to be a Christian and I am accepting in love all faiths. I do respect all other faiths and I am free to celebrate mine with the world just as I celebrate in theirs in the world. I send out Merry Christmas cards and Hanukka cards. No one has ever been offended by me doing so.

I think your idea is awesome that if this is not religious for you then please take the shift of someone who wants to spend Christmas Eve or Christmas day with their family and friends. Wonderful post!

You have gorgeous clip art on your blog! Katerina

NOV

2007

Faina...... yes, I can definitely feel the heart and soul that was put into this post. But better than that was the fact that you seem to be considerate of others and their beliefs. Allowing them to celebrate or giving them the chance to. And then pointing out that many don't even have some of the same opportunities that we might have.

On another note.... within some months, I had a hard time trying to pick topics... I now try to associate my daily life, personal or business, and see how that could possibly be transformed into a blog. Sharing with others just as you did here. It doesn't always have to be business related or vice versa. My whole point, after awhile, the blog topics can flow in masses and you might have trouble keeping up with them. ;o) But that can sometimes be a good thing. Nice job here.

Katerina -to me it's not so much a question of majority or minority, as there were many times in history when the majority perpetratd horrible crimes against minority.

I see it as a question of freedom to have your own believes, religion and principals that is extended to all regardless of numbers.

Thank you for the compliment on the art. I spend a lot of time selecting art for each post to reflect the spirit of my words. This post is about the Holiday spirit and I wanted for the art to reflect HAPPiNESS.

Jeff - In the hustle and bustle of the Holidays it's easy to forget that there are some who have no one to celebrate with. For some family holidays we try to invite someone who may not have a place to go to celebrate.

As for the topic of the posts, I mostly write from inspiration. When I don't, there is a difference in the quality of writing. This post did not come until the last moment.

I can write without inspiration about real estate market conditions, makes for a very boring reading.

Have I swamped you with my posts?:)

Faina, thanks for entering the Holiday Balance contest. We've got all the entries in and the judges are in the process of finalizing the scores. I'll come back and comment more after the winners are announced.

Brian -you sound so serious and official like. You even have the scores, wow.:) Thanks for taking the time to read it all.

Faina.... no, you haven't swamped me with your posts. Writing from inspiration is a great way for a consumer to get to know you better and feel comfortable with you. I just wrote a post 2 days ago about my success on AR. Not sure if you read it, but blogging certainly has helped. I write both mortgage blogs and sometimes those 'feeling' blogs. And people can see that you are genuine and sincere, usually, from these types of posts. And I am getting to know more about you. When I do business with people such as yourself, it makes for a better connection. And easier to become referral partners down the road. Which is even more of a reason for you to try and attend the gathering in December. I also sent Desiree Daniels a quick note, if she were to come down, that maybe the two of you could talk. She is in your area also..... Have a great day....

Hi Faina,
Freedom of worship, one of the principles on which this country was founded. I respect everyone's faith and religion whatever it may be and their right to celebrate it with their customs and rituals.

Love, kindness and respect toward our fellowman is what we should practice no matter what our religious belief are.

A great entry for the contest.

Jeff -I read your post and I am very happy for you in terms of your business results. As you can see in this post I am in the "feeling" blogging now. Just happened this way. The human story, any story, allows people to see the "real" you, plus makes for a more engaging reading. Does that bring more real estate business for me? I would like to say "yes", but I can't yet. i will have to assess as I go along.

All these sleepless hours have got to amount to something. :)

Faina.... yes, I read your comment. Thank you very much. I will reply later, just trying to finish up a mortgage related post now.... but it makes 110% sense, in regards to the so-called 'feeing' blogs. I am in agreement that it allows the consumer to see the real you. I have had a few consumers on here that turned into clients because they followed a few of my blogs. They told me that they read my mortgage related posts and the other posts showing my personal touch, my personality, and how I came across to them. I think the balance between the two is a winning combination.

In regards to the countless nights of lack of sleep, it will pay off. That's all I did for 8 months, blog and comment into the wee hours of the morning. Besides, I loved the connections that I made and as you stated, blogging does more than just reach the public. It allows you to express yourself. As so many of us have mentioned in posts, it's like therapy. Don't change what you do on here or what you feel comfortable with. That is another great thing about blogging, they are your blogs. You can do write whatever you want to write.

jeff belonger

Cynthia - you said it best:

"Love, kindness and respect toward our fellowman is what we should practice no matter what our religious belief are. "

I would add that it's not just about religious differences, but other differences as well - male. vs. female, one race vs. another, poor vs. rich, healthy vs. ill. The better balance we achieve the better off and happier each one of us will be.

Holiday times give us an opportunity to think of others.

Jeff- I have been writing strictly real estate as well as non-real estate posts. I think the best ones are the ones that tell a story. We all like to hear a good story, don't we? Thanks for your support.

NOV

2007

Faina-I love your outlook on balancing and the focus of giving. When we give we are so outside of ourselves that we just can't help but feel so good. I wish for everyday to be focused and balanced like it's a holiday. That way that spirit of giving is always there.

Your post is so uplifting and what a blessing it is to read such inspiration.

Julie - thanks. As always you are too kind. There are many ways to give ans many times - I guess any time is right.

NOV

2007

Faina, thanks again for your support of the Holiday Balance contest. We received so many wonderful entries, including yours. I appreciate greatly your words and perspective. I am proud that I live in a country which allows us the freedom to practice our own religion as we see fit and does not persecute those who are not in the majority. Too much hate exists in the world against people who are different from "the norm" and our Founding Fathers were very wise to include the freedom of religion as one of the major tenets of the highest law of our land. It is unfortunate that so many people around the world are still slaughtered, killed, persecuted, and ridiculed in the name of religion. While the holiday season can be a very joyous time of year to spend with family, as a Jewish-American, I have often found this time of year to be slightly polarizing in the bounds of the greater society with the extreme commercialization of Christmas and the ever-present jingles and choruses that seem to follow you from car to office.

Brian - the sentiment is mutual. In the post I wanted to think even more broadly then religion and about other differences ; poor vs.rich, healthy vs.poor. How cheerful can one be when they are in the hospital, or unable to buy presents, because they don't have money, or celebrating when there is no one to celebrate with. I think about this as an outsider to the Christmas holidays, but an insider to this great country. Thanks for coming back with your own perspective.

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