Zack Ballinger

Why I put up my Christmas Tree before Thanksgiving.

Every year it seems like the annual debate on Facebook is whether or not to put your Christmas Tree up before Thanksgiving. Retailers and online stores aggressively market Christmas to us earlier each year. We see this by continuous TV commercials advertising gift ideas, emails, and newspaper ads, and stocking store shelves with Christmas merchandise before Halloween ends. One minute it’s March 24th and we look at the calendar, blink, look again, and it’s November already. The year flies quickly by and we soon are in another Christmas season.

The holidays can be a stressful time of the year. The pressure of buying gifts, forgetting to buy someone a gift, or thinking about what gift to purchase relatives that seem to have everything. It could be the stress of having to travel to a different location, host family members, see relatives you see only once a year, or deal with kids that don’t behave well with others. The work of putting up the decorations, lights, and holiday décor can seem daunting during the end of year. All too often we work overtime or more hours to afford the nice Christmas presents for the kids. The news shows people getting in fist fights at Wal-Mart over a $8.00 wash cloth Doorbuster. Everywhere we look the holidays are complete Chaos.

I love chaos. I love seeing Christmas trees in November ( I would love to see them in September) . I love seeing tv commercials with Christmas songs advertising this year’s new Lexus. I love seeing the Facebook posts of Christmas cookies, parties, or showing off holiday decorations. I love when the weather turns colder and it reminds me that Christmas is just around the corner.

WHY???? Most people think, “Wow you are one sick, puppy!” Why do you want chaos? I love Christmas because I believe Christmas is Love. Spending money is a lot of fun, but giving is the most fun. The older I have gotten the more I’ve realized how life is very short. I have a deep appreciation for the Christmas Season. Christmas can spark a fire of giving among our own communities.

When I see a Christmas Tree, I see an opportunity that sparks an outpouring of love and outrageous generosity over the moment, the season, and the entire year. Ideas that can produce love are as simple as: Giving extra to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital for a child battling cancer, purchasing several toys for Toys for Tots to impoverished families, volunteering at the rescue quad or homeless shelter by handing out food to people that can’t afford a decent meal, Surprising a random waitress or waiter by leaving a $50.00 tip to a random stranger, visiting the local nursing home bringing cheer to elders that may not have family, paying for another customer’s coffee in line at Hardee’s. The list can go on forever. We are getting ready to do some special things for people who are in need this season. STAY TUNED!!!!!

If you see Christmas through a generosity opportunity lens; it will change your view. Christmas trees are well over due for a November return.

I forgot to post pictures last week of the beautiful Shoshone Falls.

“Often referred to as the Niagara of the West, Shoshone Falls is a must-see attraction in Twin Falls, Idaho. At 212 feet tall and 900 foot wide, Shoshone Falls is one of the largest natural waterfalls in the United States surpassing the height of the famous Niagara Falls.”

Craters of the Moon National Monument has unique volcanic features of an enormous lava field. The 750,000-acre park contains a diverse array of volcanic features including volcanic rifts, cinder cones, spatter cones, shield volcanoes and lava tube caves. A surprising number of plants and animals have adapted to live in the harsh volcanic and high desert environment.

The perfect lunch spot .