This New Year Consider Joining a Community Group

And just like that – it is over.

After all the cookie making, gingerbread house decorating, trips to see Santa, plotting and scheming so your kids don’t know where their presents come from, saving and hording to buy extravagant Christmas presents, wrapping, taping, putting together furniture and toys in the dead of night – after the Christmas movies and songs, the carolling, the self-examinations, the fundraising for those less fortunate … Christmas 2010 is now history.

Whew.  I say that because I am at once relieved – and sad. Truth be told – I have enjoyed this season immensely because I have been blessed with a small child and have seen Christmas through his eyes.

Was I extravagant and did I overspend? In the end – of course I did. I bought so many toys and games and electronics – and I waited with as much anticipation as my son for Christmas morning because I wanted so badly to see him happily open those presents that had tortured him for a week all wrapped up and disguised under our Christmas tree.

He went to bed with his Polar Express ticket ready and went to sleep anticipating a wonderful journey to the North Pole to find Santa and to awaken with a special gift just from the big guy.

Raiders AGM

Raiders impact on Prince Albert local economy continues to go up: AGM report

12h ago

Court proceedings

'The impact of this trauma will echo for generations': court case surrounding La Ronge woman's death reaches conclusion

Dec 11, 2024

Going Global

P.A.'s Zablocki named to Team Canada for U18 Women's World Championships

Dec 11, 2024

His hands were shaking Christmas morning when he went to the tree and he was so overwhelmed … I thought he might start to cry.

And so, like the children in your family he tore through wrapping paper to find what was revealed in each package and when it was all over he was surrounded with empty boxes and torn wrapping paper and he sat looking at his presents. The rest of the day continued like this and by Saturday evening we returned home with, literally, a car filled with toys and gifts.

Sunday comes and sure enough he plays with the toys – a little bit with each one …but before long was bored and wanted to go outside.

We live in a small town and so there was a large hill of snow just across the street which one of our neighbours had transformed into the perfect sledding hill – complete with steps dug out of the snow. Liam grabbed last year’s Christmas present, a sled, and we spent the entire afternoon with his friends out on that hill sliding, rolling, snowball fighting.

As I watched them – covered with snow and laughing for two hours – I commented to my friend that they were having unimaginable joy for free, happily leaving the expensive gifts behind in the house.

Such is life.

It really is true that the best things in life are free – or close to free. There is nothing better than being outside and enjoying time with friends.

So as we prepare for the New Year – let us reflect on this truth as we valiantly try to make our New Year’s Resolutions. Let this be a year of “people” in our lives.

Take a bit of time to scroll through our extensive list of community groups today  and if you are not part of a group, try to find one which will be of interest to you. I guarantee you that one of these groups will provide you with new friends, new skills and new opportunities.

Happy New Year.