Tis the Season

Yep, it's that time of year again.

Thanksgiving has come and gone. The leftovers have been shoved into the refrigerator. 

Now it's time to start the annual tradition of rushing around. Time to create all sorts of stress for ourselves. Time to feel pressured and overwhelmed and not good enough. Time to spend ourselves into debt once more.  

It doesn't have to be that way. What if we take a step back and think about what we actually need to do versus what we think we have to do? What if we think about making some new traditions that won't destroy us physically, emotionally or financially?

What if we don't pile our plates high with fattening foods, no matter how tasty they are? What if we instead fill our hearts with love? Or if we fill our hearts with kindness? What if we try something different this year?

Don't spend all your money on frivolous Christmas gifts. Spend your innate gifts and talents to make the world a better place.

Don't fill your home with piles of  material things. Fill your life with memories and experiences and other things no money can buy.

Don't work so hard to accumulate more things. Instead, work to accumulate what I call karma points. We get karma points by doing good.

Don't get caught up in the madness of the season as you search for 'the perfect gift.' Instead of rushing around to buy more things you don't need, see how you can invest your time and energy to help others.

Don't try to show people you care by buying expensive and often unwanted or unneeded gifts. Instead, show the special people in your life that you care by planning a meaningful activity with them, or by helping them with a difficult chore, or by doing something else meaningful.

Make sure you take care of yourself. Take time to savor the simple things in life. Go for a walk. Play ball with your dog. Read a good book. Volunteer to help others. Develop your talents. 

I have drastically cut back on holiday activities. I no longer bake several kinds of cookies and make a 3-pound batch of fudge. Maybe I will make some shortbread this year, but that's it.

I don't rush around looking for 'the perfect gift.' If I find something I think someone would like, I buy it whenever I come across it. But there is no obligation, and I don't expect, or want, anything in return. 

I know that my daughter loves Hatch green chile and Dion's ranch dressing. So I mailed her three jars of green chile salsa and four bottles of her favorite ranch dressing, including one bottle with green chiles. She isn't expecting anything from me, but I knew these simple things will brighten her day. And they did. She messaged me to say how much the box of goodies means to her.

A friend loves to try new kinds of coffee, so I recently got a deal on three bags of beans for her to enjoy. Another friend likes to cook with flavored olive oils, so I will get her a gift card to the local olive oil shop.

I'm not stressing over shopping, because I feel no obligation to buy anything for these people. I buy something I know they will enjoy. None of these things is expensive. 

Television commercials screaming about Black Friday deals, the 'lowest prices of the season' and other inducements to get people to spend drive me crazy. I record everything on television that interests me, then I fast-forward through the commercials. Or I mute them if I happen to be watching in real time.

Instead of wasting money on buying things friends and family may not appreciate, I donate a bit extra to my favorite charities. Last week I sent a check to the local Meals on Wheels office, which provides hot meals and a bit of companionship to homebound elderly in my area. I made a large donation to a charity in Kenya that rescues, raises and releases orphaned elephants. I have a list of five other charities that will receive a donation this month.

Rather than feeling stressed over holiday gift buying, I feel a sense of happiness that I am able to financially support causes that are dear to my heart.