Simplicity for Christmas

I guess there are some people who sail through the holidays, peacefully, smoothly with joy in their hearts.  They probably buy the perfect gifts for their loved ones.  They love Christmas music no matter how often they hear it.  The incessant advertising doesn't bother them at all.  They have a Christmas card list with hundreds of names and the cards are all ready to mail on December 1st. 

These folks probably also have kids and full time jobs but they are just very well organized and need very little sleep.  Also they have very high energy.  The bills that come in in January don't show any increase because they've saved all year for Christmas and did not run up their credit cards.

 These people have to exist - so many of us are trying to be like them.

So far, though, I've not met anybody that fits the above description. 

As for me, my main problem with the holidays - especially Christmas - is the feeling that I'm failing to do it right; that the presents I buy will not be what they want, etc.  Sometimes Christmas cards went out after Christmas.

I felt like everyone was disappointed - especially when I was a young mother and wanted to please my kids so badly but had so little money that we strung popcorn, cranberries, and paper chains to decorate the Christmas tree.  For a long time I let the sadness I felt at Christmas follow me year after year.

I was raised by schoolteachers which had the effect of teaching me that somewhere, someplace were solutions for my problems.  Since these were the days a way long time before Google, I had to go to the library and ask people.  I began to come up with some solutions from reading books and getting ideas for other people.  I started earlier in the year and put back money.  I talked to my kids about limited resources to let them know they weren't loved less if they didn't get everything they wanted.  I made jokes about being the "grinch." 

Now I've completed a lot of research and have developed a philosophy for myself - not for anybody else - about Christmas which I will share a little of here.  IF you want simplicity at Christmas like I do, you might try some of these things:

*  Make a list of everything you do for Christmas.  Cross out the ones that aren't fun for you and only do the fun things.  If you are sharing the holiday with someone else, have them do the same thing.  You can each do fun things from the other's list.

*  Christmas cards.  Would it be just as much fun to send Valentines instead?

*  To reduce waste and unwanted gifts, try consumables (food, movie tickets, gift cards from their favorite stores and restaurants.)

* Sacks and decorated boxes can simplify wrapping and waste.  The "wrapping" can be used again.

*  Focus on the things you love about Christmas.  For example, I love Christmas music - especially instrumental music.  I have a small collection of favorite CDs and I listen to them in the car.  I attend a church production (free) of the Messiah every year.

Check out simple Christmases on line and get more ideas.  Have fun instead of stress this year.