Why We Should Cherish Family More Than Presents At Christmas Time

How is it that nowadays,, Christmas is more fixated on the giving aspect but what are we truly giving? According to a 2016 unscientific study hosted by The Today Show, most moms out of the 6,000 that were studied, planned to spend an average of over $250 per child for Christmas. When were kids, we grew up believing that Santa brought us everything we could dream of yet it obviously wasn’t Santa.

As my siblings and I get older, we drift apart in more than one way. We’re all doing different jobs, moving away and of course this prohibits us from seeing each other. This is where the holidays come in at a great time. The holidays give us a chance to reconnect again and talk about the good and the bad times. As the youngest of three at 20-years-old, it makes it difficult for us all to connect due to our age gaps. My brother is 25 and my sister is 30. That being said, my mother insisted that we’re all together for Christmas and of course, none of us really said anything because whatever mom says, go’s!

If I think back to even a few years ago, we always had our traditions. We would all get up early and open presents, followed by a Christmas breakfast and spending time together for the rest of the day. Now that we are all older and know (shield your kids eyes) that Santa doesn’t really exist, we don’t really give a lot of gifts but more so money because let’s face it, you thought your kids were hard to buy for a teenagers, try buying for them when they’re adults. My parents will definitely vouch for that one, it gets way harder.

So as adults, it’s not a huge excitement for presents but the excitement comes from the family spending time together because someday, you won’t be able to.

Big family or small, cherish the holidays and bring your family together, it’s the time spent together that counts not the gifts or even the timing. As long as your family is together, the gifts shouldn’t matter. Take it from a young adult, as you grow older, you’re going to want to spend as much time as you can with your family.

I also believe the holidays should be more about time spent together rather than money spent on each other due to how society is constantly evolving with the latest technology that comes with a bigger price tag. When I was younger, I would remember seeing all these other children gossip and gloat about what they got for their birthdays and how much it costed. In reality, back then and now, a lot of families don’t have the money to spend hundreds of dollars on technology and bundles of toys.

How would you feel if a child came to school, gloating about their latest iPhone or tablet and your child is use to getting socks and a few small toys? None of which is your fault, but the way a child looks at how much something costs can also bring back some harsh feelings towards their parents in the sense that, my parents don’t love me enough to get me that toy or my parents can’t afford a toy everyone else is playing with. This why from a young age, children should learn that it’s not all about the gifts and how much money goes into our celebrations but it’s about how much time and love goes into the moments we should cherish while we are all together.

Leave a comment below and tell the Biz X Magazine family how you plan to spend your holidays. . .

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Why ComiCon is More than Just a Convention

From Comic Book artists to heavyweight champions, the Windsor Comicon has something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re into Q and A’s with your favourite power rangers or a photo op with the actors from Degrassi, you’re sure to meet someone new and join in on all the fun.

The Windsor ComiCon is one of the many events in Windsor where you can get together with people who are in the same hobby as you. This can not only free your mind of any “standing out” but this can also help tame social anxieties and help you get out of your comfort zone.

The Comic Con also helps you meet new people that are interested in the same expos, games and artists as you. These events have a great effect on your self-esteem as everywhere you look, you’re bond to see someone you know or want to know such as interviews or taking pictures with a group of entertaining voice actors.

If you haven’t been to a Comic Con, you’re sure in for a treat. Cosplayers are one of the most innovative of the bunch at these events as they dress up as their favourite characters and play the role of that person for the event. From anime character to countless television personal, Cosplayers dress up as numerous different varieties, it’s kind of like an early Halloween, but much cooler!

Personally, whenever I go to a Comicon, I try to let my full nerd run wild and no, the term nerd is nothing to be ashamed of. You can see the passion in the costumes, the interactions between those who attend and immersing yourself into the world of Comic Con is an experience all in itself.

This year, my boyfriend and I plan to attend as Shaggy and Velma from Scooby-Doo, why? Because we most certainly can! It’s all about the fun, the experience and don’t forget about the passion that fills the air within the Comic Con walls.

The youth should feel more accepted and be able to freely express myself as the people they are. Conventions like Comic Con bring out the best within communities as people come together and enjoy something that they are passionate about and are able to share their love for the fandoms they have grown to praise.

There is lots of freebies, Q and A’s with comic book artists, signings for your favourite actors and many more! It’s a convention for the geek culture, big and small, If you love super heros, fan fiction, movies, television shows or comics, the Windsor ComiCon will not disappoint you.

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Photo: Dominik Vanyi

Youth Matters – Covering Up Tattoos

In my opinion, tattoos are meaningful and tell a story, why cover them up?

In a professional opinion, they are to be covered completely and not see the light of day. I have one on each wrist and one on my ankle. A book, my cat’s name that passed away last year and a butterfly with a semi colon on my ankle to symbolize my journey with mental health. 

In a recent article from JOBBIO by Alice Murray, “Tattoos in the Workplace: Why Do Employers Still Care?” Murray tackles the hard questions about why tattoos are seen as irresponsible and portray a lack for professionalism.

As the misconception of tattoos symbolizing rebellion and SOMETHING, many employers and even elders frown upon the look of tattoos.
Without knowing the meaning or purpose behind the tattoo, people are quick to judge the person based on how they look.

In a LinkedIn survey with 500 participants, the respondents said that they think a candidate’s image plays a significant role in the hiring process.

The results stated that 88 percent said that having a tattoo could limit someone’s career progression. Also, 41 percent admitted to actively rejecting a suitable candidate because they have a visible tattoo.

To quote Murray (last name withheld): “It didn’t matter that the candidate was completely qualified. Because they had made a decision to permanently mark their skin they were dismissed without a second thought. Why does this discrimination still exist in today’s workplaces?”.

When asked why the employer would reject a candidate with a tattoo, 47 percent said it was due to industry tolerance but 41 percent said it was because the employer has a strict dress code.

Before I had my tattoos, I was one to say I would never get them because they are permanent. After finding some that became meaningful and explained my life journey, it was a no brainer that I wanted them. Having body ink has nothing to do with my experience, work or skill level and my dedication towards a job.

A colourful book symbolizes my journey as I became an author in September and I’m working on my second book.

My cat’s name with a cat face beneath symbolizes the loss of my best friend last Summer. I had my cat since I was younger and she and I moved houses together, she cuddled me while I slept and was overall my comfort buddy.

Lastly, my butterfly with a semicolon symbolizes my journey with mental health that may not be over but I continue to battle everyday.

I got these specific tattoos because I loved the idea of a story being told on my body through images. Not only are they conversation starts, they resemble me as a person and my life’s journey. I am grateful to be able to wear long sleeves at my workplace to cover up my tattoos but it is also prohibits me from expressing myself.

What is your professional opinion and personal opinion on tattoos?

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Photo: (l-r) Our West End Neighbourhood Renewal Team- Becca Lab, Joan Mavrinac, Kirsten Blok, Tamara Murray, Leo Gil, Allison Groulx, Rita Higgins, Keely Murdock. Photo by Chelsea Girard.

The West End Neighborhood Renewal

On March 27, The West End Neighbourhood Renewal hosted the Biz West Networking Night through Life After Fifty at Jimmy Gs Bar and Grill from 6:30 p.m to 9:30 p.m.

The free event invited attendees to have the opportunity to network with different businesses and business professionals. In this “shop local, support local” environment, the networking event focused on exploring opportunities and discussing neighbourhoods in West Windsor.

“The majority of our work is resident lead, this is important because at the end of the day we want to excel in supporting the priorities, vision and needs of the residents,” says Leo Gill, Coordinator of Resident Engagement and Resource Development at Our West End Neighbourhood Renewal. “We are also using new window vinyls #BuyWestYQG and the idea was to have many promotional items under one banner so this is a social media tactics to let Windsor knew what’s going on in the West end.”

Businesses from Olde Sandwich Towne, the BIA, the Society Shop and many others joined the networking event to share their love for the West end.

“We want to create that relationship between the residents and with the businesses as the community continues to grow from each other,” says Tamara Murray, community coordinator at Our West End. “We think Windsor has some amazing hidden gems. Even to take half a day and walk down Wyandotte and witness what the West end has to offer to open the eyes to so many.”

To keep updated on what’s going on in Windsor’s West end, visit the Our West End Neighbourhood Renewal facebook page.

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What to do after college?

As I enter my last semester of college, I can’t help but think about what I want to do with myself after. 

College may prepare you for a future career but actually getting a job in your desired field can be harder than you think. 

Finding a company/store that will hire a new graduate, with little to no experience, is extremely unlikely. Fields are usually full of positions already and if you do get a job it may be a freelance or apprenticeship position. Those are never permanent but can lead to employment.

Jobs can already be stressful but putting what you’ve learnt into progress and really showing your skills to someone who may think of you as just a kid, can be very beneficial. Every failure leads to another open door.

Which can be hard, right? Coming into any job as a newbie is hard but coming into a job with what you’ve learnt and what you’re supposed to know is harder. These things are very similar yet completely opposite. Employers strive to have their employees be the face of the company. In order to do this correctly, there is usually experience needed or you may need to know someone to get into a certain job or position.

I find myself thinking about if I truly want to go into my desired field after school, the past two years have taught me a lot not only educationally but personally as well. I’ve learnt that my life is in my own hands and I should never allow anyone to walk over me. As someone who had to pay for school herself, I took my education very seriously and fought for my marks and gave every class 110%. I also learned that everything happens for a reason and I should never doubt myself, even when times are tough.

Whatever you decide to after University/College, whether it be going into a job related to your field or not, remember that you make your own success. If something doesn’t work out, don’t dwell on the past and move forward to the next step in your life.

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