For the past 3 years or so, I've started feeling increasingly uncomfortable with the extraordinary amounts of gifts exchanged in my family, and with my friends and loved ones. Don't get me wrong, I love getting presents. I love unwrapping things, and I love watching little kids unwrap presents and play with their toys. I also generally enjoy watching friends and family open gifts that I've thoughtfully chosen for them. But it just started to be so much, and when everyone just ends up with a pile at the end of the night, and there's pressure to find the perfect gift, because someone else is getting me a gift, I say Enough.
I'm not complaining here, and I'm not saying that my method will be for everyone. But this year, I'm not buying presents. No Amazon.com, no stores, no stress. There are a couple of people on my list for whom I've thought of specific gifts, which I will give. Several others will receive homemade gifts. For most of my family and friends, however, Christmas will be about time spent together. Time just seems so much more valuable to me than things that you can buy, and so much more personal.
Follow my lead, and maybe together we can beat the consumerism of Christmakwanzakuah. Unless you really enjoy giving gifts, in which case, carry on. 7 days left to order for free shipping from amazon.
2 comments:
You got it, dude. No gift for you this year.
Did you read my blog posting a year ago about Christmas after Christmas? Perhaps this is a tradition that we should put into motion.
J
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