I shouldn't end my unintentional blogging hiatus with groans, moans, complaints and a soapbox. But it has to come out. Stop reading now if you're looking for positivity. You won't find that here today.
I know I'm not the first to ask "have people stopped consulting calendars?" Last I checked Christmas was listed as occurring on one day--December 25th. If you want to be generous go ahead and include the eve of the 24th. It's one day out of a year comprised of 364 other days that are NOT Christmas. November 1st is not Christmas. Neither is the day after Thanksgiving. Nor December 4th, 5th, or 6th.
My blood boils when I walk into a store and see aisles and aisles of Christmas decorations this time of year. It boils even more when I see commercials on TV or email in my box telling me to get a head start on my purchasing. The call to buy! buy! buy! as the primary means to celebrate Christmas is a lie. If we spent two months more fervently honoring the Savior, and living a more giving life, not just buying more crap, I'd be all over that and I'd be the first to say "put up your lights everybody!" But that's not what we do. We fret. We make lists. We spend our money on people that probably don't need one more thing. And we're so stinking stressed preparing for ONE day that we don't have any energy left to reflect, to be grateful, to worship in whatever way we choose.
Each year I pull back more and more from the consumerism. Yes, I do give a couple gifts to my immediate family. Yes, I make baked goods for my neighbors. Yes, I put up a small amount of decorations, and yes, I even send a Christmas card to friends and loved ones. But unless I'm making my gifts I see no reason to start thinking about this in November. What I do need to think about in November, and every month of the year, is being nicer. Giving more of my emotional self to people. Wanting less so I have more freedom of time and resources to do for those who may not be able.
I'll probably regret this post in the morning like I do most of my rants, but when I walk into a hardware store of all things and my son asks me why the Christmas trees are up I can't help it. I get angry. Not quite the feeling Christmas is supposed to inspire.
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6 comments:
Miss Debra, I was just about to call a search party after no posts for almost a month. And just where are the Halloween pics of Nyah and Connor? Hello, their fans are waiting. I totally agree w/your holiday rant...although, really, I'm just happy to see life coming from your blog (and your general direction). :)
Pinky - Sorry! I just can't justify posting lately b/c I've had so much to do. That and I'm lazy. Take your pick. I'll have to send you some photos of the kids on Halloween. Seems too late to post them. :) Fans. Whatever. :)
Um, excuse me, but weren't you the original blogger? The one that started the craze. Yes, please send some. How are you feeling? Doing? I miss you.
Aw, I do understate the dislike of the consumer side of Christmas. I even relate to that part, but I can't help but be madly in love and excited about Christmas every year. Presents, surprises, Christmas music...I eat it all up! But again, I tend to be pretty good at avoiding a lot of the stores and the commercials, so I feel like it is more on my terms.
(My word verification was "ingeiker"...that sounds like a foreign insult!)
I feel your pain. You know how I feel about Christmas and commercialism. This SUMMER when we were at Mom's, her craft store already had the Christmas section up! I do LOVE Chrismas, the music, the decoractions, the whole package. I'm no Scrooge by any means but I reject all attempts at pushing Chrismas on us until AFTER Thanksgiving. One holiday at a time please...each one is special and has purpose!
Min - I like it too, but only in small doses for a shorter amount of time. I need to be better like you about not watching TV and doing more shopping online. Smart moves, both of them.
Jenni - You have got to be kidding me. This SUMMER? Unbelievable. Yes, one holiday at a time, and even then it's not like we always need to have the next one on the brain. There are gaps in the calendar and I think there should be gaps in our celebration requirements!
: )
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