Honestly, my gift giving is a personal thing. I am close to “loved one” and I spot something I KNOW they would appreciate or love, or at least enjoy. It becomes fun to see them opening their present then. It’s obviously a hit and miss at times, but at LEAST it came from the heart more than from the obligation to give them something because they gave me something.
I give the way I’d like to receive. If you know I would love said item on the list, then by all means. However, if you are just slapping some stuff in a box to wrap for me, then I’ll pass. I’d honestly rather have the gift of your company over for a night of good food, drink and chat than to get a bunch of stuff that will end up sitting in storage.
Go check for yourself in your storage. Do you see unopened boxes of items you don’t bother to use? How much have you accumulated over the years? THAT is why I think that we are all being consumed with a bunch of things we don’t need.
It clutters our homes and even our spirit and ties us down. Take stock of your things; are they giving you pleasure or an obligation? Do you keep the item because you use it, enjoy it or appreciate it? Or are you keeping a bunch of these things because you don’t want to offend the auntie who gave it to you? (Which honestly, do you really think she’ll remember she gave you those salt and pepper shakers?) Do you look at your home and suddenly feel overwhelmed with the stuff in it, feel depressed or suffocated from it all?
Then maybe it’s time to rethink your priorities for the upcoming holidays. Perhaps your kids don’t need yet another television/game/iPod/headphones. They don’t really need a mini snowmobile that will endanger them to the traffic they are not prepared to deal with because they are only six for Christ sake!
Many families go into debt because they want to give everything to their kids. I understand that sentiment, but all you are doing is creating another person to be consumed with too many things. Do you really want your children to inherit that?
I struggled one Christmas, because I was on student income. One of my kids was miserable that year, seeing all her cousins being spoiled rotten. All the while she was getting generic presents from family members who had no idea what her tastes were. She literally got six pairs of pyjamas that year. I pointed out how as her parent, I know what her wish list is and that not everyone knows what exactly she likes. I then realised that I had to teach my kids about what the holidays should truly mean to us.
They are not only about the presents. They are about being with the ones you love, celebrating and being thankful for the end of another year. It’s also the hope that perhaps the New Year will be better or top the old year (a fresh start and all that). I showed how there is more value in baking Christmas cookies together and creating fond memories of love and bonding than the things unwrapped that Christmas which will eventually either be obsolete, broken or forgotten in a few weeks/months/years time.
I prefer enjoying my health, mentally and physically than to be consumed and sick with all the stuff in this world. How about you?