BUY PRESENTS
It’s a great day my friends! We have officially entered the Holiday season and that makes my heart so so happy! I absolutely adore this time of the year!
When I look around me though, it saddens me to see some people dread the holidays and I ask myself why? I find it so ironic that this time can easily turn into the most stressful time of the year for some when it really was intended to be our most joyous time with friends & family.
STRESS? What’s causing the stress? Well, we usually experience stress when what we’re expected to do feels as if exceeds our personal capacity…whether that capacity is in terms of knowledge, time, money, energy? But if we step back and think about it, where do those expectations come from anyway during the Holiday season? Well, there are a few external sources I can think of, but we certainly have the personal power to question and drop these expectations like a hot potato.
Over the last few decades, it’s been engrained in our subconscious mind that to show love towards our families during this time of year we must do it through material gift giving. Right? This expectation is plastered all over our TV’s, shopping centers, social media, family history . It’s everywhere! While it is a great way to give it’s not the only way and perhaps not the most fulfilling way either.
You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
-Kahlil Gibran
One way to give is by being fully present for those we love dearly and those who are less fortunate than us. I’m talking about giving with our hearts, our time & energy instead of our wallets. We can help, connect, love, laugh, show grace towards those we love…
The bottom line is we have to take full responsibility for the type of HOLIDAYS we want to have. We can get very clear about the expectations, where they come from and if they need to stay in our life or go. We get to choose if we want to spend our time connecting with our favorite people or trotting the malls & fighting the crowds.
If you decide the holidays are more about being present than buying presents, which is something my hubby & I fully subscribe to, here are a few ideas on how we can give with our hearts this year and find great joy & fulfillment at the same time. PEACE, LOVE & JOY is what this holiday season is about, after all.
1. Contact a friend you haven’t seen in a while and tell them you’ve missed them and invite them out for coffee, a meal or a cocktail.
2. Say YES to the friends & family Christmas parties you were invited to. Your presence will be a huge gift to the hosts. They obviously cared enough about you to invite you.
3. Grab your family and go help distribute gifts for the less fortunate at a local charity such as Salvation Army. It is amazing how much joy that brings to our own hearts knowing that we’re making someone else’s holidays a little bit better.
4. Pop some corn, make some hot chocolate & make it a cozy movie night with family or friends. Even better, watch a comedy together. Laughter is such a great gift to give to those we love.
5. Make a date with your significant other and suggest skipping the material gifts and instead schedule a weekend getaway for the two of you. Remember to open up your heart and let them know what you adore & appreciate about them before you end your date!
6. Host a Secret Santa party and instead of buying gifts, each secret Santa should share one funny story/memory they remember about their assigned person. Before moving on to the next person they can share what they love/appreciate about their person.
We have the power to make the holidays what we want them to be. Giving the softer gifts of love, appreciation, forgiveness, acceptance, peace & joy may not be for everyone, I get that. Most importantly, do what your heart desires & find joy in what you do!
Much love to all of you! ?✨?
Dee
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