Too much too soon

For some folks, the holiday season is filled with cheer, while for others it can be stressful and depressing.

What has become somewhat stressful and depressing is the extent to which some merchants and consumers will go to hit the proverbial trough out of fear they’ll somehow lose out.

Retailers each year start their advertising campaigns earlier. This year they rolled out the decorations and promotions before the last trick or treat could be played out.

And there are shoppers so obsessed with having to buy the latest electronic toy, they’ll sleep on sidewalks to be among the first to hit the aisles.

Years ago, holiday promotions didn’t start until December and although shopping was somewhat frantic, it was never this chaotic.

To be sure, there’s nothing wrong with giving and receiving gifts, great and small. Just as there’s nothing wrong with a little holiday revelry. But maybe it’s time for everyone to slow down and put things back in perspective.

Profit margins, after all, aren’t going to shrink if stores wait a little longer next year to start bombarding us with jingles and special deals. The latest and greatest gizmos aren’t going to become scarce just because they are unveiled a week or two later.

Putting aside all the hype and hustle, this is a time for all of us to pause a moment and reaffirm what makes the holiday season so special.

It is a time for reflection, a time to count our blessings, and to spend what precious time we have with the people we love.

As the old saying goes, there are some things money can’t buy.