By: Pat Padley

Pat Padley — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:43:24 +0000

Taylor, I’m glad you liked the show! I’m really happy we talked about Affluenza too… I think it’s an important topic in today’s society that I hope gets addressed with future generations. It’s sad that only at the end of most people’s lives they realize that stuff doesn’t make them happy… true genuine loving relationships do.

By: Taylor Gustafson

Taylor Gustafson — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 06:29:55 +0000

I loved your show this week and what a perfect time to start the topic of Affluenza. I completely agree with saving money as well as putting money where it is important in today’s world.
As part of my spiritual journey, I have recognized how many nice clothes and all the needed electronics that are more than anyone really needs. I took a stand with my family to tell them to bring me to a halt in being spoiled on Christmas. My family still want to see me feel like they want to make me happy so I have told them only one gift. As part of my year, I was blessed with the gift of a dog, that has helped me in more ways than one in pushing through the difficulties and struggles. So my Christmas goal is to have all the money my parents would spend on me, siblings, cousins, and grandparents to give that money to the SPCA or buy necessities for animals in shelters so that other people/children can be blessed with an animal in their life rather than have the cat/dog put down due to lack of food and funding.
I don’t know if you have one of these, put my mother’s big tradition with all of us is to let our Christmas card be the very first card in everyone’s Christmas collection. So, we all take the Christmas card photo in August, have the photos printed in the first week of November, personalized/labeled/divided between those in the immediate area vs. those out of town by the Monday of Thanksgiving week, and finally put in the mail two days before Thanksgiving . That way each card is received on Black Friday. Often, my mother is the reason that many families remember to take theirs Christmas photos. My sisters think its nuts, but we are all in shorts, tan from the summer sun, and faking the Santa hat most years. I have had this tradition since my first year of life and I’m sure she will take that honor of being the first all the way to her gravestone with a list of her accomplishments. If you have ever seen the movie ‘Cheaper by the Dozen’ you would be able to understand how nuts it can be.

Comments on: Episode #28 – Affluenza

By: Pat Padley

By: Taylor Gustafson