So here we are, with a few more days until all hell breaks loose.
What’s upon us?
Why, the holiday season, of course!
I don’t know about you, but Thanksgiving has completely snuck up on me this year. In fact, I’m still kind of in denial that it’s happening next week. After Thanksgiving, though, it’s off to the races! Our December calendar is already filling up fast, and I haven’t even taken into account things like shopping, wrapping, baking… or enjoying my family.
Something is holding me back this year, cautioning me against the frenzy, against the onslaught of stuff.
I don’t want the most special season of the year to go by in a blur of rushing, stress and empty cardboard boxes.
A few nights ago I was talking with Kate about the importance of putting our time and resources into experiences rather than into things. I don’t think it completely sunk in, but I want to continue the conversation and figure out how we can make experiences the cornerstone of our holidays, of our family. Honestly, neither of the kids have thought of anything they really, really want to find under the Christmas tree (except a puppy, but that is a conversation for another time), and I kind of want to take advantage of that situation and see if we can’t change the way we approach the whole thing. Not that I’m opposed to presents – I quite like them. But I don’t want to replicate the years that the kids have been inundated with so. much. stuff. that they can’t even remember what they got.
That’s not meaningful for anyone.
So, readers, what do you think? How do you and your family make the most of the holidays? How do you put aside the messages that tell us we need to buy, buy, buy and focus on what actually matters?
That is my goal this year. Remind me of that, okay?
