WITH the festive season now upon us, it is time to unwind, relax and celebrate with family and friends.
It is the time of the year many people take a few days off from work and their other busy schedules to enjoy a little vacation which helps to make the holidays so special.
So much of the holiday tends to involve travelling, feasting and merry making, but we should all strive to stay safe and cross over into 2023.
Some will kick off everything else and drown themselves in alcohol, and there will be thousands who will use the opportunity to become tourists. At the end of the day, people will definitely celebrate this festive season, albeit for different reasons.
With gaiety all over, the world can be a very dangerous place.
Wherever you are, you never know when you may find yourself in a situation that will require you to defend yourself from physical harm.
It can be easy to get lost in our own little worlds when we are out and about. You have to stay alert and keep an eye out for anything that doesnot feel safe or makes you feel uncomfortable.
Our roads have become death traps, as some drivers throw caution to the wind and become daredevils, thereby endangering other innocent people’s lives.
We should all be watchful of some of the speedy merchants who will be cruising on our roads.
While most people will be feasting, there is still need to be wary of food safety.
This includes whether or not the food is prepared in a safe manner and being mindful of the ingredients for those who have food allergies as this will spoil everything if people fall sick.
The festive period is not time for any costly experiments as we might live to regret for the rest of our lives.
As we celebrate, we need to understand the true meaning of Christmas as the big message of this important day on most people’s calendar is that of joy and hope.
For those who have something to spare, it is encouraged to share with the less privileged.
As the Biblical wise men from the East gave gifts to Baby Jesus, there is an appreciation of joy and selfless giving at this time of the year; a reason there are platforms like the Mayor’s Cheer Fund which sources resources for the less privileged in our communities.
It is encouraging to see organisations and people reaching out to assist the less fortunate. In their various little ways, they confirm there are many good people around us.
That should motivate us as we move towards the attainment of Vision 2030.
Hopefully it inspires us to be good people. Hopefully it empowers us to show concern for others and love one another.
We acknowledge all those who have given up their time and effort to come to the aid of others, and hope they will continue to be shining lights in our lives.
For those who will be travelling, let us ensure the safety of our property and homes.
It is not time to cut safety precaution corners.
Taking a few simple precautions will help to reduce vulnerabilities to the threat of crime and minimise opportunities for criminals to take advantage of holidaymakers’ lack of familiarity and recourse to known community support structures.
With many people now spending most of their time on the social media, it is not advisable to post your holiday plans on these platforms as this might alert criminals.
With everything said and done, let us not spend lavishly as January will come with a lot of expenses as school fees need to be paid, uniforms need to be bought and bus fares for the children need to be available.
Whatever you will be up to and doing, we wish you a Merry Christmas
