Does any of this, or all of this, sound familiar? This was my holiday life for many years too. But then I was blessed with "reduced means." All of a sudden, I had a perfect excuse to not put on a big spread for New Year's Eve. I had to get creative if I wanted the girls to enjoy their Christmas without as many gifts. No one tried to compare cost of gifts with me because they knew it would make me feel badly.
Instead of putting up a lot of Christmas lights outside, I put up what I could. But we enjoy putting a cd of carols in the car cd player and driving around to look at other lights. We sing all our favorite songs and pick our favorite houses. Each year now, we drive past those houses to see if we still like them or if others have taken their place. Instead of purchasing gifts for friends and relatives, we have all agreed to give to certain charities. We might not have much, but many others have less. It feels good to help out others and to not have to find a home on my shelves for another knickknack. Gatherings with friends have become simpler, maybe a pot of soup and homemade bread instead of a fancy sit-down dinner. Instead of rushing out to buy more gifts, we spend nights watching the holiday cartoons. Rudolph and Charlie Brown are still more fulfilling than an overcrowded mall with anxious shoppers.
Mind you, the girls and my husband still get gifts. But I shop for them all year long, so the holiday isn't a rush and a battle. We still indulge in expensive gifts now and then, but they are not the norm, nor are they purchased just to keep up with the Joneses. The best gift we give to each other is our time and mutual enjoyment of the season.
I challenge you to make this year the year you break from all the stressful traditions of the past holidays. Even one change this year is a step in the direction of simpler, more meaningful holidays. You can do it. You will be glad you did.
