The Anti-Christmas Christmas

Since this time of year usually brings about the question of "What are you getting people for Christmas? "or "What do you want for Christmas?" I was surprised to hear someone say last night that she wasn't buying anyone a gift this year; she was "making Christmas" easier. Wow. I have a real problem with that. Of course, at first I could see her point about how as you get older you buy yourself what you want so you have everything and how her nieces have plenty of toys so really she'd be buying out of obligation. The more I've thought about this conversation, I realize it's not the giving and receiving of gifts that makes Christmas the holiday that it is. Christmas is thinking of someone else and spending time and effort on something for them vs. just on our selves which is what we tend to do the other 11 months of the year.

You don't have to spend a lot of money on others if you want to "make Christmas easier" but at least do something for others. That's the whole meaning of it. Don't sit back and say "Oh, the holiday is so commercialized--I don't want to be a part of it." People use this logic with deciding not to write Christmas cards too "Why spend the time to just send someone a card where you sign your name?" Granted, not everyone likes to write cards or write in general but maybe you could call some people you haven't talked to all year instead. Don't just say "Oh, it's a waste of time." If you think it's a waste of time then do something for others that you think is worth your time.