I love to give. But the holidays have become so commercialized that I feel that if I don't give someone this expensive trinket that they hate, that they are going to be disappointed. And I know that's stupid. I know that the people in my life that I love and that love me will be happy, not matter what they recieve, if they recieve anything at all.
Part of it is the way the stores have made Christmas all about buying "stuff." When I remember the holidays, nothing for Christmas was in commercials before Thanksgiving. Nothing was set out until Black Friday. This year, stores began sales the week before Thanksgiving, and what's more, is that "Black Friday" sales began ON Thanksgiving, taking time away from families and dinners and normal traditions of eating turkey and sleeping during football games, to promote this concept of "you must buy this or that to make that special someone love you."
I threated to Jose that if they ever put Christmas stuff out before Halloween, I'm boycotting the commercial holiday all together and not giving gifts at all. This year, I'm partially boycotting. We are buying gifts for our immediate family: Me, Jose and the kids. Everyone else is getting something homemade or that we have stockpiled.
Now, before the comments come rolling in, I understand that Christmas is about Christ and His birth. I love the nativities and the advent and church services during this season. I love spending time with family and friends. I love meals and lights and quality time that I spend with my kids. I love the joy in their eyes. I love the hope that comes with this season.
But the commercialism of it all puts a dark cloud over all of that. How do I focus on the true spirit of Christmas and allow it to infect me, instead of becoming this green Grinch-like creature?
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