Contemplation Series: Presents
You can find my previous topic in this series here: Am I Thankful?
Despite economic turmoil, December has drifted in and holiday shopping is at its peak. Although I have made the handmade pledge this year -- which restricts my purchases to craft markets and online stores like etsy--I can't help but become intoxicated with shiny, over-sized holiday ornaments in any big box that I enter. The wreaths are hung, lights up, and the holiday value packs are out on display. But what does this holiday hoopla all really mean...
Could I be so bold as to say that this economic crisis might have a positive impact on our souls? That we really have to examine the purchases we make--put a hault to our impulses and replace the monetary value with a sentimental one. But isn't that what we should have been doing all along?
I have lovely memories of plentiful Christmas mornings--receiving everything on my list and more. But where does that leave us as adults--when we can more or less afford everything we want/need--when the fantasy of a magical man dropping off the newest & greatest thing ("thing" could be interchanged with "stuff" because that's all it really is right?) drifts away and your left exchanging gifts with everyone you were "supposed" to buy something for?
I find nothing more enjoyable then when a gift finds me--when the perfect something surprises and me and says "wrap me up, I would make a lovely gift for your brother." That's why I am now a firm believer in shopping for Christmas before Thanksgiving--before the malls can start filling your head with what they think you need to buy. That may put me on some crazy person list...but it is honestly a more gratifying and pleasant experience. I'm also slightly drawn to this concept because I hate shopping in crowds--I'm the type that likes to be the only person in the store (thank god for online shopping!).
I'll pause my rambling for moment and pose a few questions. Have you thought differently about shopping this year? Do you have an overwhelming and daunting list of people you need to buy for? Do you completely disagree with me and receive some type of spiritual high trampling over people on black friday?
Don't think I'm some type of scrooge--I've had my tree up for quite some time :) I just become slightly cynical when gift cards and corporations take away from the real meaning of thoughtfully giving to others.
thoughts 
Reader Comments (9)
beautifully said. i do believe in shopping done before Christmas. it helps me enjoy the season much more.
the older i get the less i believe in buying bunches of gifts for the people on my list. my husband and i have taken on the task of making all of our christmas gifts this year ... well almost all of them, lets get real my techie brother who eats nothing but pizza is not going to appreciate jalapeno cheese bread and fig jam. but i am kind of done with consumerism for consumerism sake, so if the present doesn't mean something to me or the receiver, well i would rather just not give it. so it is a sad farewell i bid to the big and shiny things that would be soooo cool to have for a year or two. i say hooray for shopping before the craziness starts and hooray for sentimental value.
I agree completely. My Christmas shopping is never the stressful, crowded, bargain-hunting experience because, like you, presents scream out to me throughout the year (add me to the crazy list). I also love trying to make the perfect gift. Being a full-time student for the last three years, many more presents have been hand made, and I like it so much better that I think I'll keep it up. I hope the economic problems might also encourage people to make more gifts, because, for me, there's nothing like receiving a hand knitted scarf or a delicious loaf of bread.
i agree completely. due to skinny wallets and depressing bank statements, my family has agreed to give each other time together this year rather than gifts. we are going to make cookies, crafts, and enjoy each other's company. although my younger siblings might have a harder time appreciating this, i could not be more excited. when did we get to the point that my mom has to apologize because we can't have a big christmas this year? i see this christmas as a chance for my family to start new traditions and let go of some of our consumer-driven, advertising-dictated ones. instead of being sad about our economic situations, lets all take time to appreciate what we have and who we have and remember that our "presence" can be a present in itself. happy holidays to everyone.
A great post---really thoughtfully put. My husband and I were having a similar discussion on the effect of the economy on our mindset. It makes me so mad when I hear economists on the news talking about how the solution is for us all to go out and spend more---that's what got us into this trouble in the first place! Of course that's not to say that it's easy to resist temptation...I love to shop, and I'm really struggling to control my impulses. But there's so much to be said for focusing on a single item of quality, rather than a glut of quantity.
This Christmas I'm doing baked goodies for all my relatives, a few etsy finds for my girly cousins. I haven't even thought about what to do for my husband yet. And I'm frankly not expecting anything myself. It's interesting how once you get out of the shopping mindset, coming up with a list of things you want is pretty hard.
I do love finding that perfect gift for someone, though. Creating a surprise that brings joy to their day is infinitely better than getting something yourself!
I totally agree. Bring on this economic depression I say. Everyone knows what goes up must come down.
Yes it is sad that people are going out of business and stores are closing (this is happening a lot here in new zealand) but it means all the crap gets cut back. I also think it will make people get more creative about their business ideas. Only the decent, needed businesses will stay around.
In the end it comes down to the leaders to make the way. The followerswill be just that left behind with little reward
I agree with you completely. My fiance and I were just talking the other day that as humans there will always be something better even when we receive what we want we always want more. We are never satisfied. On another note that first photo is so pretty. I love those colors together.
hear ye, hear ye. at the risk of sounding snobby, my friends tell me i'm a great gift-giver. but it's truly about the gift finding me as you sweetly put it. all throughout the year, i find things (big-box or not) that my bff or brother or mom would love or appreciate (even better). for christmas or bday or what have you. it's less stressful & usually less expensive. but what i really enjoy is that it's meant especially for them. i also try to make sure it's something functional rather than to collect dust. i'll admit though, there are still times i "have" to buy something like the yankee swap at my new job or an in-law to be. i still try to find something nice but useful. also doing more purchasing from local artists, etc.
thank you for this post.
I too have taken on the task of handmaking all (or at least most) of my christmas gifts this year. And while it is slightly stressful and takes up all of my free time at the moment, it makes me happy to know that I took the time to make gifts for the people I care about most rather than buying them the latest and greatest thing that they will be collecting dust by this time next year.
Love your blog, by the way!