Looking Back to Thanksgiving and Forward to Christmas

Well Thanksgiving has come and gone and we can actually say with confidence that we are in the Christmas season and everyone knows what that mean! That's right - Egg Nog! You either love it or you hate it, and ohh how do I love it (kicked up with some soul warming Rum)! But I digress...

So traditionally in my family over our turkey feast we recap the past year and how circumstances have changed or stayed pretty much the same. Followed by this the kids normally select names out of a hat for Secret Santa style gift giving (there are five siblings). Well Mom and Dad preempted our usual tradition with a disclaimer of their own. This Christmas there will be no gifts given. This year has been an unbelievably tight year for them money wise. Currently they have three girls in private university, one boy in private high school, the business is not doing as well as has in recent past and the pool needs a new liner.

At first this notice to all of us over dinner came as a major surprise to me since I can't remember anytime that my parents shared the details of their personal financial situation with us in such an open way. Though, taken aback by the lack of presents initially, I reflected on the situation and decided that this was indeed a good thing.

How many times over Christmas do we receive things that we truly do not want or need. We just say, "Ohh, Thank You!" and give them that trademark smile. I think that the coming Christmas will be enhanced by the lack of material gifts. I will try to get back to the basics of the holiday season and try to make/create gifts with meaning that come from the heart. I will keep myself out of the malls and my family and friends in mind since they are what make the holidays special.

I can't remember any instance of me standing in a crowded mall with the perfect gift being reminded of how important the person I was buying for was to me in my life. I feel like it has just become automatic to default to the malls where they part with your money and time. Time you should have been spending with the people closest to you.

While I am not saying I am going to buy ZERO gifts this winter, nor am I proclaiming this approach is right for everybody. I recommend that you take time to think why the person you are buying for is important to you and if you are just buying for the sake of getting SOMETHING for the person. If so consider doing something together or a heartfelt card. Those go a long way!

Editors Note: I have specifically not gone back and edited this post as it is mostly stream of consciousness and I feel like something would have been lost in the editing process.

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