With Christmas only five weeks away we can expect to see plenty of enthusiastic shoppers making their way through the city to tick gifts off their holiday list.
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And while the holiday spirit is well and truly in the air now the Christmas tree has been lit in Launceston, there are some important messages that need to be shared.
The first is shop local.
What may seem like a simple concept can become overwhelming if you are the type of person who gets frustrated at waiting in line, pedestrian traffic and trying to find a park.
But this is why the message needs to be shared with five weeks to spare, to avoid being stuck in line on Christmas Eve and remove the temptation to order online instead.
That way, not only are you prepared for your own holiday celebrations but you could be helping a local family put food on the table on Christmas Day.
The holidays can also be a difficult time for many, including those who have to stay open for business while everybody else is enjoying their annual time off or those who are unable to spend it with their loved ones.
So the second message is patience.
Patience and a little cheer won’t go astray this Christmas season and that patience will come in handy when you are driving into town and notice a little extra traffic on the roads.
Every year, police urge drivers to stay safe throughout December, as people head away for their vacations or to spend the holidays with their extended family.
It’s also the time of year when most people enjoy being merry and having a few drinks to celebrate.
Sadly, this can sometimes lead to tragedy on our roads.
The third and some would say most important message this Christmas is that tragedies don’t just affect one person.
They affect that person’s family and friends and they also affect the emergency service workers who attend the scene.
Those emergency service workers may have been enjoying a Christmas lunch with their own family when they received the call.
So no matter you are doing over the next five weeks, whether it is working, celebrating, vacationing or just spending time with your family and friends, remember to support Tasmanian businesses where possible, be patient on our roads and in our shopping centres and be safe.
But most of all, be merry.
