Merepeka Raukawa-Tait: It's the thought that counts

Christmas shouldn't be about the hustle and bustle. Enjoy the free and fun things, like Rotorua's Kuirau Park (foreground), and remember, it's about being with people that counts. Photo / File

The newspapers are full of them at present. Lists. Lists of things we should do and things we must avoid at this time of the year. Don't overspend, make a budget for Christmas gift spending. Don't overeat and don't neglect your daily workout. Helpful hints too on avoiding hangovers.

Places and things to do with the family on wet weather days. Places and things to do when the days are sunny and hot. And, most important of all, how to get on with the family members you don't like but have to put up with for a few days over Christmas.

With all these helpful hints to surviving Christmas you might be thinking twice about celebrating Christmas and New Year altogether. And, yet, that shouldn't be the case. It's just that Christmas has turned into such a bustling time of the year that it can be quite stressful for some people. Of course, survival hints are welcome. But we should all be capable of setting our own rules. People complain that Christmas is so expensive. It can be. If you let it. Know what you can afford to spend and keep to that amount. If you haven't got much money then take your time selecting gifts. Look around. You'll be amazed at what you can find in garden shops. I rarely buy flowers so love receiving them or a plant for the garden. Contrary to current thinking, it is still the thought that counts.

And in Rotorua we are blessed with so many outdoor activities to get stuck into. Each family member could take turns in selecting their choice of activity for the day. Kuirau Park is so inviting to wander through now and has picnic tables scattered about. And don't forget the Green Corridor. Something new to trial.

We live in one of our New Zealand's beauty spots and have the great outdoors to enjoy. That doesn't take a bundle of money. We can choose to get stressed or we can choose to "lighten up" and just enjoy our family and friends. They want to see someone who is obviously looking forward to spending time with them.

Put the emphasis on enjoying quality time together. That's what I feel most friends would appreciate. They don't open gifts and think, "This is a bit shabby." Don't sit down for lunch observing, "This is a bit stingy." It's you and the family they want to be with. Every year, I give thanks I still have my family to celebrate with. This year, for some families, there will members missing who would normally have been present at Christmas. Life is short, so enjoy.

And enjoying life is something Teina Boyd of Tauranga is absolutely committed to. Reading about this young mother over the weekend I couldn't help but admire her positive attitude. She is paralysed from the chest down after a freak accident 12 months ago. A former New Zealand volleyball representative, she is philosophical about walking again. She said "If I walk again, awesome. But it's about adapting and enjoying what I've got. You've got to make the best of what you've got".

Friends and family who support her rehabilitation are very important. "You can only say 'thank you' so much. It's impossible to show the amount of gratitude I owe." Seeing the outpouring of love and support had taught her the value of being present with people. The value of being present with people. That's it. That's the gift we can give each other. Given freely and with love. That gift is priceless.