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A customer was in my store the other day and we were discussing the holidays. She said Christmas shopping was going fine, but she still had moments of anxiety where it felt like her heart was going to pump right out of her chest.

Isn’t it interesting that this is the typical holiday tale? The frantic frustration of finding a parking place, then the right gift, and standing in line, is enough to drive most of us to drink too many Tom and Jerry’s.

The Christmas season isn’t supposed to be about frustrated shopping as much as it is for peaceful reconciliation. Do something different this year. Instead of the rat race, try another approach. Offer to help the single dad who has custody of his two small children with babysitting, or give a word of encouragement to the middle-age widow who recently lost her husband to cancer. One doesn’t have to look far to see someone in need. How about a visit to an old-timer whose body doesn’t move as quickly as it used to, but whose mind is still as quick as when he or she was 30? Look for someone really needing a boost this season.

When sharing what we have with others, it does something for us as well as the recipient. It leaves everyone with feelings of goodness and contentment. These acts of generosity and kindness actually bring our community together and make us stronger. This is true sharing of the wealth.

We on the Rocky Mountain Front enjoy the best of the holidays. As conservative, family oriented people, the outdoors is part of our heritage. No one understands the value of the Front or its future better than we do. As I sit here, a “Northerner” is blowing through. The temperature is below zero and snow is blowing everywhere. A favorite childhood memory of Christmas is snow falling gently on the barn roof in the yard light. On the Rocky Mountain Front, snow tends to fall sideways or come in slithering along the ground. But what joy compared to the big cities where a snow-capped mountain in the background is something found only in a book.

Take time to experience the communities of the Rocky Mountain Front this holiday season. Each small town has much to offer without the long lines of the big box stores. You will get better service and have a much more peaceful time. Usually the person waiting on you is the owner or a member of the local community who really is happy to see you. You will be glad you did.

Jim Anderson is a Choteau businessman and resident of the Rocky Mountain Front.

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