Just Don’t Do It

By Sunday, December 23, 2012 2 0

I imagine now that it’s two days before Christmas, you might be bracing yourself for a final trip to a store to buy one more gift or two. I’ve certainly done that many times in the past, despite the Christmas rule-breaking skills I’ve developed.

Before you head out on that errand, consider a few things I just learned from this Grist article:

  • One study found three-fourths of Americans feeling the holidays are too materialistic.Of U.S. adults who receive gifts during the holidays, 83% receive unwanted items.
  • Three-fourths of U.S. garages are too full of stuff to fit a car on in.
  • The U.S. has 3.1% of the world’s children, but 40% of its toys.

To turn Nike’s slogan upside down (or right side out?), I suggest that when it comes to buying yet another gift, we just don’t do it.

My husband Thor and I are putting our energy this year into hosting a Christmas dinner for ten: friends, and family of friends. We’ll cook and talk and laugh — with no gifts involved, at least, not physical ones. Thor and I are exchanging a few gifts in the morning; I’m not opposed to all gifts. I’m saying that when it comes to the compulsion for buying yet more gifts, we can choose to just not do it.

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2 Comments
  • Ami
    December 26, 2012

    We made each other gifts and it was so lovely! Handmade, useful things. A family treat. :)

  • greenpowerguy
    December 24, 2012

    Sometimes when you”re really lucky, you can just turn to the lover/spouse or friends that you’re with and see the real gifts in your life.