As the Holdays arrive......I am split in two

This time of year brings out two opposing selves with my one body-mind-spirit self: One is trying to get off the consumer teet and exchange only gifts of the heart-hand and nothing store bought. The other half of me is so used to the old warm fuzzy holiday cheer and all it's glory. I spent all of the weekend after Thanksgiving watching the Hallmark Network. Now that will take one back in time. Yet they also shared a similar message. What is it about the holiday season (Christmas, Hanukkah,Kwanzaa, Solstice and whatever else people celebrate around the world) which makes us examine our motives,desires, financial abilities and lack there of, need for consumerism, expectations and all the not so needed stress which goes along with the seasonal rush to please? It is as if we lost site of what this time represents for people of all faiths and beliefs.
The most important thing is the gift of giving and receiving all the love the world and God and mother earth has to offer. There is no dollar amount to that. What we can equate is our love and our intentions, yet within our means. I know people who have gone into deep debt to satisfy the desires of their children and those who feel a need to have gifts from Target, K-mart, the mall and other places where only material items exist. The long lines of inpatient and rude customers are a "big hint" which sings that "something is not quite right with that old scenario".

So I come to the place of explaining my unusual Holiday request............I ask that you do something very different this year, if you have not yet already started. I ask that you stop yourself from consuming anything which is not absolutely necessary and makes sure you can afford it. Also that you email your cards instead of sending them with paper and stamps. "Cold"...I can hear my family now. This is not to stamp out old Chris Kringle it is a call for balance. In a consumer driven society, which has not worked out so well for many, I see the cup half full, yet still. I see there is a chance to pick up the old fashioned phone to wish cheer as opposed to sending a card.I can feel the joy of my elder neighbor when I call her to see if I can bring over a loaf of fresh baked bread. It is the smallest of ventures which bring about some of largest pay offs in joy and hope. I hope we all look at how much we could "do with out" in a world riddled with credit issues, defaults and junk piles of stuff building up in our landfills and oceans. We need to feel good about our choices. I feel good about my choices this year because I am in debt. I do not have the ability to buy when I owe so much. That is the bottom line here. It is responsibility and integrity for me personally. Kids don't mind making cookies and getting something home made from love, as long as they understand why. There is a story to tell which could save our future. Join in the discussion. Happy Happy !!! and throw away the credit cards !!!!! If interested check out www.freecycle.com. it is a way to trade with people in your area like a barter system.I have not used it but I have friends who have found and given great stuff.