Dear Oak Community, What Do You Want For Christmas?

About five days ago, I was scrolling through my Twitter feed when I came across a tweet asking, "What do you want for Christmas?" This question had me curious, and I decided to look through the comments, and the responses I saw were alarming, to tell you the truth.

People used the opportunity to make wishes ranging from phones, laptops, holiday trips, spa treatments, cars, new apartments, rent payments, all the way to even romantic partners. However, what stuck out for me the most in the comments was the number of people who had financially-related wishes—those who needed money in one form or another.

It's that time of the year again, where we are all flooded with the theme of giving. Everywhere you turn, someone is telling you to give in the spirit of Christmas. I know your ears are full now, and it may all seem overwhelming. You may be asking questions like: What if I can't afford to give this Christmas? What if I do not have enough for myself not to talk about others? The truth is, you may not have enough right now, but you have life, and when there is life, there is hope that things can get better. So I want to admonish you to hold onto that as a consolation. Moreover, in the current state of the economy, if you have enough to meet some or most of your immediate needs, then you are doing fine. I would advise you not to put yourself under undue pressure.

The truth is, you may not have enough right now, but you have life, and when there is life, there is hope that things can get better.

Frankly, it is okay not to be able to afford gifts this season. For most of us, it has been a daunting year. We all deserve a break from certain obligations. The best gift you can give anyone right now is your love, support, attention, and value for them. Be grateful for life, for family, for friends, for work (if you still have one), for colleagues, for hope (because the future holds favourable promise for you), and much more. Be grateful for health, for peace of mind, and the little achievements. Count your blessings, and you would see that you have a lot to be thankful for. Be grateful that despite the odds, we are still standing Twice as Tall and can only be optimistic that 2021 will be A Better Time (fans of Burna Boy and Davido will surely understand this).

I know this is not our typical post on savings, financial literacy, retirement, and pensions, but Christmas is not a typical day in the year. So I want to use this medium to encourage you to relax a little and enjoy life (responsibly). Remember, only the living can save for the future. I want to encourage you to look back on how your year has been and all the little and big things that made it beautiful despite its peculiarities. Once again, count your blessings.

Now that my words are out of the way, Dear Oak Community, What do you want for Christmas? You can share with us, who knows, OAK Pensions might surprise you!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Emmanuel Olabode is a writer, actor, and filmmaker. He is the Founder/Creative Director of The OYA Company, a media and entertainment company that produces original content across digital, film, TV, radio, and social media. In 2017, he worked as a Digital Media Consultant to the Chief Press Secretary under Governor Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State. Emmanuel's writing credits include several articles for Business Day, OYA Magazine, and YNaija.