By Irene S. Roth

Many of us want so much for Christmas. The media shows how happy we would be if we had every new technological gadget that was advertised. But most of all, we'd feel cool and we could tell all of our friends that we have the most up-to-date BlackBerry on the market.

Greed is a terrible sin and it is destructive to our happiness and peace of mind. It can also ruin friendships and cause sibling rivalry during the holidays. All of these things can put a real damper on our holidays. Sometimes, it can even destroy our holidays.

The best thing we could do to avoid these negative feelings between our siblings and friends is to stop being too greedy. Here are a few tips on how to do this.

1. Practise gratitude. There is nothing more important than being grateful for what you have during the holidays. So many people will go to bed hungry on Christmas Eve. So, having food and other luxuries should all be counted as blessings but not just as the ordinary things in life.

2. Unplug from the media. During the Christmas season, it is best to spend some time away from the media. You may want to crochet a few baby blankets for the less fortunate. Or you may want to take some time to read. The important thing is that you need time away from the television, Internet, and constant texting.

3. Don't expect too much. It is important to ask for as little as possible and be surprised and grateful with whatever you receive for Christmas. This can give you a sense of peace and overall happiness during the holidays. Expectations can ruin many Christmases and it can certainly dampen everyone's spirits.

4. Don't make unreasonable demands on your parents. Parents seem to be bombarded with expectations from their kids. And this isn't necessary nor is it in the right spirit of Christmas. Instead, don't make any demands. You may be surprised at how much you get when you don't ask for a lot.

5. Volunteer at the local food bank or homeless shelter. There is no better way to appreciate the holidays than to help the less fortunate in your community. This will not only give you an appreciation of how lucky you are. But it should also help you put your excessive needs in perspective during the holidays. We don't need everything we demand to receive. We only think that we do.

By practising these tips you'll enjoy the holidays a lot more. You may even avoid sibling rivalry and you'll be grateful for what you have personally. And there is no other way of enjoying the true meaning of the holidays

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Irene S. Roth is a freelance writer for teens and tweens. She is in the process of writing a few E-books for teens and tweens on the topic of confidence and self-assertion. She also has an adolescent blog at http://www.adolescentgirlsblog.wordpress.com.