How the f*ck does anyone manage this?

[cybermule]

Christmas, I mean.

I quite like it. It's a nice idea to have a holiday in the depths of winter. I celebrate the turning of the tide of light, rather than the nativity, and a few days off with some brightly wrapped presents and some good company brings light into the drudgery of the winter months.

Each year, I buy one small gift for each of about half a dozen close friends and family, either something they definitely need, or something intangible, or something quickly consumable. I send cards to around a dozen people, less close friends and family, telling them how special they've been to me over the year. Nobody gets both a gift and a card.

I've written my cards, bought my presents, and wrapped less than half of them.

And I'm already exhausted and bored.

How do those people cope who buy lots of presents, send lots of cards, have a huge family celebration with mountains of food that lasts for days?

It would kill me.

I admire them, but I maybe also despise and dislike them. If they seem happy, exclusively the former. They deserve admiration for their energy and hope. But most people are martyrs to the velvet gloved ironfist of Consumer-mas. They stalk the malls like zombies, relentlessly chewing over every bit of tat, only casting it aside if they really can't think of any more people to buy (for).

Celebrate the solstice, celebrate Yule, hannukah, Christmas, or just celebrate having a few days off work. But do it simply and happily, for all our sakes :)

Comments

[gwyn-hwyfar.livejournal.com]

Yes! I agree. Nice to read this morning, after an evening of stressing out about it all.

[aras-55555.livejournal.com]

I hate these endless emails I get around this time from a few online stores who have me on their mailing list. Gah! I'm aware of your existence as a retailer, and I'm sure you have some products which are currently discounted for the holiday season, or are selling especially well - I don't need to be reminded every few days!

[amiga500.livejournal.com]

I've bought things online for the inlaws (it's nice to have someone else ship them), and my family's decided to skip gifts, and just have a good big meal together. Most of what we're doing is my husband's idea -- he was raised Jewish, so now he wants to try Christmas.

[hydroplanechrst.livejournal.com]

Right on! Way to go getting your stuff done so soon. Must be a load off your shoulders though, right? BTW, I like your gift-giving ideas: something they definitely need, or something intangible, or something quickly consumable. I really like the quickly consumable - especially when it's food. ;) When I finally get my head above water, that is probably what I will do too. As it stands, I think this is the first Christmas ever that I have had to completely put off. I'm not really happy about it, but not much else I can do.

Working in retail I have first-hand experience of just how annoying consumer-mas is. Consequently, it has become my least favorite time of year. :) I do like the family get-togethers though. The best reason to really enjoy it, IMHO.

I celebrate the turning of the tide of light, rather than the nativity, and a few days off with some brightly wrapped presents and some good company brings light into the drudgery of the winter months.

Very cool. :)

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

Everyone's getting stressed and miserable - it's ridiculous! I wish everyone would just chill out and enjoy it :)

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

Exactly - you shopped there because they sold stuff you want to buy. Ergo, you'll probably remember them when you need to buy more stuff. I hate the tacit assumption that if they remind that they have some stuff, and that it's cheap, you'll be prompted to go and shop. It works the other way around for me - I shop because I need stuff, not because it's available to buy. Although that doesn't seem to hold true for most of humanity :P

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

That all sounds very sensible. I just want to enjoy CHristmas, rather than being too burned out when I get there. Must be weird to be trying Christmas for the first time :)

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

I'm sure your Christmas will be good :) There's too much obligation to bring presents, anyway - people should just be glad that their nearest and dearest can bring themselves, and nothing disastrous happened that year.

And yeah - I love the fact that the days have just started getting longer at Christmas. You may not notice it yet, but the depths of winter have passed, and we're safely back on the way to Spring :)

[moonskrye.livejournal.com]

hi there. :) normally, i am a real bitch and won't add someone that has added me without making a comment to me, but you do have a couple of my favorite people on your flist :)

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

LOL - hiya :) Normally I just friend someone and introduce myself within a post or two. So I guess I got off lucky with you ;)

Hello, and nice to meet you.

[moonskrye.livejournal.com]

i'm pretty sure that i had seen your username and icon for quite a while now ---are you a rl friend of kat's? i'm pretty sure that is where i recognized your name. :)

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

Yeah - Kat's my friend, and I've been commenting on her journal for quite a while. Same with you, really - I recognise the name and icons, and then recently noticed again you just seemed quite cool, so added you :)

[moonskrye.livejournal.com]

LOL i am the ANTI COOL, thank you. :)

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

Heh - don't worry, I have a strange idea of cool anyway ;)