Christmas
I no longer identify myself as a christian of any flavor. (And boy do they come in lots of flavors.)
That said, I have an emotional attachment to Christmas and winter. I’m finally in the Christmas mood for I think two reasons.
- The weather is undeniably holiday like. I don’t know exactly how much snow we got here in the Cincinnati area, but boy it sure is a fun pain in the rear.
- I’ve decided that I’m not buying gifts for everyone.
The second item sounds like I’m scrooge like I’m sure. But, I am done with being obligated to purchase a gift. If anyone expects a gift, it has moved from the realm of a gift into the realm of a social tax. Sort of the yearly fee that I have to pay to maintain friends and family.
I’ve decided that gift giving should be more spontaneous, and both to people I know and people I have never met.
I have been looking out for opportunities to help out those around me. (I do not classify them as random acts of kindness; I consider them opportunistic acts of kindness.) I’ve also made a very specific decision not to comment on what exactly I’ve done here or to anyone in person. My reward has already been paid in satisfaction, adding self-congratulatory statements actually subtracts from the satisfaction. (I am toeing the line here.)
I’ve also decided I want to make gift giving just a more organic part of the year instead of this artificial shopping fest we have every year.
I’m not sure what I want Christmas to be about, but I know that the standard fare no longer interests me.