I keep getting offered free (and nice) things

Holidays are always that time of year to appreciate how grateful you are of the things in your life. And every year I realize again and again how fortunate a hand I have been dealt. 

 

I keep seeing posts by desperate parents on social media sites asking for gifts for their kids because they already work more hours and that only gets them as far as house and food and essentials. Not gifts for their children. It makes me sad, and I feel for them. I wouldn’t want my kids to be sad on Christmas because they didn’t get any gifts, even though I am trying my hardest to provide for them. 

 

Now I realize that everyone makes choices in life, and some are good and some are bad. We all make different ones, and I try not to judge those who choose differently in life than I would have chosen. But that is me, and that is them. 

 

In my job at the magazine, I keep getting offered free (and quite nice) things. I’m learning that unlike hard news, where it is ethically wrong to receive gifts of any kind, receiving gifts in the magazine world is encouraged and celebrated. I got free, delicious macarons; I was offered (but did not receive, sadly) tickets to Disney On Ice; and I am getting a free tasting set at a brewery on Saturday. And the cherry on top? I was offered a voucher for a two-night stay for four adults at Gaylord Rockies Hotel, a very nice and expensive hotel. Included in that voucher was a dinner budget (free food!), free parking, and tickets to see their show, ICE! How the Grinch Stole Christmas. 

 

As you can tell, it was devastating for me to find out that I only had until the end of the month to use the voucher, and, on top of that, I had to schedule 14 days out. That left me with an about four day window, in which I will be in Minnesota for all of it. So sadly, I had to turn that amazing offer down. 

 

But it just showed me how fortunate I am that I have a pleasant job writing articles for Colorado moms AND I get offers for some very nice things. That is just how the magazine world works here I guess. Get offered free things and in return, I get to write a nice article that will benefit Colorado parents. I never actually get asked to write an article, I just always do because otherwise it feels like stealing. 

 

Point of it all being this: I live a very fortunate and happy life. I have a good home, a loving family, a healthy and loving relationship, good jobs, and I am content. 

 

I hope you all are content and happy as well. After all, it’s Christmas.

 

My Determination: “I think we all knew it would end this way.” - Hayley Smith, American Dad