I find myself engaging in thoughtful fantasies this year with regard to Christmas. With the emphasis on a fumbling economy and families trying to make ends meet, I am reminded of how very commercialized our holiday season has become!. I know, it's an overused phrase but this year, it seems to take on additional meaning. When I think of desperately trying to purchase a gift for people on my list who "need nothing" or are "hard to buy for". I think of the absurdity of the antics we go thru at this time of year to make it Christmas. What would Christmas feel like if it was reinvented without the frenzy of piles of gifts under the tree? Could we be content with a Christmas centered around music, food, family, fun (games), a time to slow down and enjoy our time without the pressures of getting to the office, etc. These thoughts ramble thru my head as I engage in my own Holiday shopping frenzy. Your ideas?
Our family is giving each other a reprieve by doing a White Russian exchange. We each only buy one gift, and the exchange works like a white elephant except it with new gifts. We focus on being with each other rather than "what we get" for Christmas. This is easy for our family as Christmas is more for the kids and then we always enjoy being together. But this year the kids are going to learn what's most important....like it or not : ) It's less stressful and we'll have a blast!
ReplyDeleteThe economic situation is leaving so many folks without work and in too many cases without homes. With all this news before us daily, tis the season to be giving. My friends and family have decided instead of indulging in our usual gift giving tradition, we will put the money to extra tags off the church giving tree, the local foodbank, local favorite charities and any other worthy cause to help our neighbors who find themselves in very difficult times. We are toning down the fa-la-las and engaging in the Gift of Giving. We will spend our Christmas blessed with each other's company dining at our homes and be thankful for all we have .... and all we've given during the Christmas Season.....
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