“Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little more.” It took the Grinch less than 30 minutes to figure out this life lesson. Why do WE STILL struggle with it?
Ask your kids what they received last year for Christmas. Would they be able to recall? How about the year before? It’s easy to get caught up in the “Bigger! Better! More!” mantra that the retail world forces on us this time of year. The retail industry has done its homework on how to make shoppers buy more, with the tempo of the piped-in Christmas tunes, the lighting, the smells – they are all subconsciously waging retail warfare against your psyche in order to get you to stay longer and spend more.
We’re no safer with online shopping – all the coupon codes, daily deals and limited time offers are just as bad at pulling us into a purchase. It’s a confusing and stressful time of year, and one that inevitably overwhelms me, year after year.
What if Christmas isn’t about the what, but about the who? I have a teacher friend who told me that, when the kids return to school after Christmas break, they are so eager to tell her about how they visited the Enchanted Village with their family, took part in a holiday stroll, baked Christmas cookies to leave out for Santa, fed the reindeer at Santa’s Village, enjoyed a matinee at The Nutcracker or had to sip hot chocolate to stay warm at Gardens Aglow. She said eight times out of 10, the kids told her about experiences they shared, not about what gifts they received.
Her simple statement struck me… of course! Think of your own memories! You probably have a handful of memories about gifts you received, but I’m guessing you have a million more memories about things you did.
I challenge you to make memories this year! Start a new tradition – something as simple as having a Christmas movie marathon with eggnog, baking Christmas goodies, or getting dressed up and introducing your children to the arts with a musical or ballet. Maybe you could do a family ski weekend or volunteer your time to help a neighbor or local Cape Codders in need. I’m certain that, just like the Grinch, your heart will grow three sizes larger.
