So, last posted on Monday...today is Saturday...guess I'm failing at posting every day in November! In my defense, though, let me just say that the reason is after being at work all day, I've been careful in the evenings to stay off the computer and spend time with my kids and husband instead. I think that's a fair enough reason to not follow through on my goal of posting something thoughtful and/or witty each day!
Today I want to give you some thoughts on shopping early for the holidays. I get all the hype around Black Friday deals, going to the mall to see the Christmas decorations, sales left and right at every store you go into. That's all well and good, but it really truly takes away from what the holiday seasons should be about...family; thankfulness for the blessings you have; helping those who aren't as fortunate as you; spending time with your loved ones, not just bestowing gifts, 'things' upon them. We celebrate Christmas to reflect upon the gift God gave us when he blessed the virgin Mary with His son Jesus. We give gifts to our loved ones as reminders of how much they mean to us, much like God gifting us with the baby Jesus to show His love for us. Christmas is not about all the 'things', the gimme-gimme mentality that the retail world has our children believing is okay, or even the festive and pretty decorations we put in our homes. Some level of all that is great, I for one think a Christmas tree, lights and some holiday decor in the living room brings a peaceful tone to our home. Picking out thoughtful, tasteful gifts for our family and friends is a nice part of Christmas too, and honestly, who doesn't enjoy opening a present and seeing what was picked out as a person thought of us? Unfortunately, much of the retail-happy, deals-saturated, busy-as-can-be culture we live in these days leads people to lose that thoughtful aspect of the gift picking out and giving process. Instead we feel pressured to buy the latest and greatest gadgets and toys, to one-up what we gave in previous years, even to give just for the sake of it being Christmas, rather than for the sake of wanting to show appreciation to somebody. Gifts, 'things', are truly not what Christmas is about...and I challenge you to really think about that this holiday season. Spend some time thinking about the person you are getting a gift for, and choose something that reflects your love and appreciation of them; something they wouldn't get for themselves; something you see that makes you think of them. Don't just buy stuff, wrap it up, and give presents to people because you think you have to. Ditch that which has become the societal norm, and create a truly magical, special and blessed Christmas for your family and friends by spending quality time with them, maybe gifting them with a little something you find that you know they will appreciate.
Along these lines, I also encourage you to do your holiday gift shopping early, get it done before the hustle-bustle of December hits, before you cannot go to any store without being bombarded by sales and deals that you don't really need to take part in. Spend some time right now making your gift list, those people that you wish to appreciate at Christmas, those you wish to give a token of thanks to, those you love and care about and want to show that to through a thoughtful present or two. Once you have those names down, start shopping, allowing yourself time to really think about what they would like or need. Then take a look at those around you that are local business owners, or have a direct-sales home business, or are crafters with unique and special one-of-a-kind items. Hit up the bazaars in your area, check out Facebook for your friends that have these types of businesses and are offering great gift ideas, talk to those around you to see if they know people that are selling items that may be on your list. It's a beautiful thing when you can find a perfect gift for somebody, and at the same time buy from a local crafter or home-based businessperson, supporting them in their venture and allowing them to be successful away from corporate America and big-box stores who are selling 'things' made in other countries, inexpensively, without quality and safety being important aspects of the finished product.
Check back tomorrow for my list of great gift ideas! I hosted a bazaar last weekend that offered a fabulous array of retailers, and I will share some of those, as well as some ideas on how you can give thoughtful, tasteful (and affordable!) gifts to everybody on your list. Set yourself a goal of having all your presents purchased before December, so you can enjoy the month of holiday festivities, parties, gatherings and gift exchanges without any of the stress and anxiety of last-minute gift shopping! It's very freeing, and I for one am looking forward to actually accomplishing it this year...I've said I will for a couple of years now, but haven't quite gotten there...this year, I want December to be about calm, peace, and enjoying quality time with my family and friends.
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