I have a confession: I don’t do a lot of Christmas shopping this time of year.
I’m not the bah-humbug type, well at least not since I stopped working retail. The holiday has no religious significance for me, but I do appreciate the idea of a season (supposedly) dedicated to the ideas of peace, love, and taking care of others. I don’t spend a weekend stringing lights all over my house, but I do appreciate the lights that the town puts up, and the displays that some of our neighbors create. This year I got a little Charlie Brown tree, but it’s a potted tree that I will take out to my parents ranch and plant once Christmas is over. Why spend $60+ on a cut tree to sit in the house for 3 weeks before throwing it in the trash? What a waste. My tree was a mere $12, and if I’m lucky I’ll be able to dig it up for Christmas next year and replant it again.
I don’t really do gifts, but I love getting together with friends and family during the holiday season. I’ve never been one to spend next years money on this years gifts. This year I’ve decided to pick an angel from the angel tree for each of my family members and shop in their name for someone who may otherwise not have a Christmas. My family has never been big on giving “stuff” (most of which will end up in the Goodwill box), so I know they will appreciate it. Besides, my Mom would have my brother and I pick out several angels every year when we were little, so it’s more or less tradition, right? This year I found an elderly man, who is probably in a nursing home, who just wanted an alarm clock. How sad. Needless to say he will be getting much more than just a clock.
Basically, I’ve taken all of the stressful aspects of Christmas and eliminated them and that has left ample time to enjoy the parts of the season that I find pleasant. December is not a stressful month in my house – it’s pretty much the same as any other month, but with a bit more time spent with family and friends. I yours is equally as stress-free.
