"Only 364 days till Christmas 2018. This shopping thing is exhausting."
December 25, 2017
16 comments:
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I was listening to the radio this morning (Boxing Day), and all the ads were on for Boxing Day sales and I just thought...urgh. So we're encouraged to buy as much crap as we can before Christmas, take the day off to stuff ourselves silly with food and presents... And then the next day go back to buying more crap (half price of course). The whole thing saddens me and drives me crazy. I think The Grinch nailed it at the end of the book actually. Christmas means more than what we get at the store :(
ReplyDeleteKaren,
DeleteSo much crap, so little time. Life is too short for shopping.
Well, I didn't do any Christmas shopping but I did go to the grocery store a couple times. It was exhausting waiting in lines and traffic. This seems to have been a better year for people who like to shop because there were more people out there than usually (since the economic meltdown in '08).
ReplyDeleteThe sun has set here. One thing I like about holidays especially the ones in winter, there are some very quiet times. Like last night and today. Not much traffic out and most my neighbors are gone out of town, so it's much quieter. The amount of noise pollution isn't fully realized until there is not much.
We have another week of extravaganza here, though it shifts after Christmas. It will settled down after New Years.
Terri - I agree that the winter holidays, away from the stores, are quiet. My neighborhood does not have many young children, so no kids out early Christmas morning playing with new toys, just lots of quiet. Although I suppose kids don't get too many toys nowadays that they play outside with... It's colder than usual here but the sun is shining, and I'm inside enjoying the continued quiet and watching the birds eat the sunflower seeds and cracked corn we provide for them. - Mary
DeleteTerri,
DeleteI like to go out when everyone else is at home. And stay home when everyone else is out. I cherish my quiet. Enjoy the birds, as Mary says. I love your back yard bird feeding area, and those bluebirds. So nice and peaceful.
Sadly Mary, that is what I see too. Kids aren't getting many toys to play outside with, I don't even see them outside very often at all in any of the neighborhoods I travel through. They are raised almost entirely indoors. I'm 60. I was raised almost entirely outdoors. We usually had a bike, a ball or two, but mostly we used whatever we found outside or used things from the house. We'd get some of the kitchen spoons and bowls to mix up mud pies. We get shovels and dig dug out forts. Sometimes when mom wasn't paying attention we'd get clothes pins and blankets and build tent forts. But I never see that kind of play and learning. It has been many years since I've seen that. Like you I feed wildbirds and have enjoyed them very much this year. I was looking at my feeders the other day. I've had most of them for way over 20 years. I don't need new ones. These are working just fine. But by some people's standards, they need to be replaced.
DeleteGlad you like the bluebirds, Gregg. I enjoyed sharing them! I've been doing bird meditation. It's simple. Just sit and watch birds. Very relaxing past time. Watching the moon and stars is the same. Here's to a wonderful new year.
364 days of voluntary simplicity that builds into a massive day of no spending. Voluntary simplicity is an important practice as it frees the mind from entanglements allowing a closer connection with things. It cuts through people's social conditioning.
ReplyDeletePeace,
Alex
Alex,
DeleteVoluntary simplicity changes everything for the better. It is a wonder more people don't enjoy it. Perhaps more will in 2018. That is my wish for the new year. Peace to you.
It took a while for me to slowly stop buying things at Christmas. About ten years ago everyone but our children/grandchild were no longer given gifts and we asked that no one give us or our kids anything anymore. Within a year, after I stopped giving gifts or sending cards, everyone happily stopped giving gifts as well although we still get cards (and when I get one I send an email instead). We don't actually buy our kids anything - we gift them money that I know they'll use for food or other necessities, not junk. And now that the grandchild is older he gets money, too, with a note from us stating that he must put half of it in his savings account and may do what he pleases with the rest (yes, a gift with instructions haha). We try to set an example for him by not being consumers. Actions speak louder than words.
ReplyDeleteThe giftless thing has made the holidays enjoyable. Now I am working on making our holiday meal more of a minimalist feast so I can spend less time shopping for food and cooking it. When you think about it - why do we feel we have to cook so much food when we don't normally do that?
Have a wonderful year next year Greg, Linda and everyone who reads this most satisfying of blogs! Deva
Deva,
DeleteBoy, are you headed in the right direction. Simplify, simplify, simplify. You really can't go wrong.
I am eager to begin a fresh year, committed to the ideas we talk about here on NBA. This was the most gift-minimal Christmas we've had with our extended family. I picked up a few items at the resale shop earlier in the year for my mother, and gave family and friends a few yummy, edible items. It was great to know these things will actually be used, and to not feel the need to find those elusive "perfect" gifts. Win, win! Happy last week of 2017, all. -Erin
ReplyDeleteErin,
DeleteGift-minimalization leaves more room for the things that really matter. Happy new year to you and you family.
My partner just showed me pics on Facebook - shops in the UK already selling Valentine's day merchandise, and , wait for it....Easter eggs!!
ReplyDeleteMy partner and I have just committed to only buying the absolute essentials in 2018 as we are on the home-stretch now to mortgage-free. Gregg, your Robert Adams quote on the side struck a chord - 'either you are working at you Freedom, or you are accepting your Bondage'. That really sums it up.
We have had some troubles lately with new ceramic tap washers leaking, and a suspected leak from the dishwasher. We could have called the plumber but instead pulled out the dishwasher and investigated and looked on youtube for instructions on servicing the tap. It was very satisfying to sort the problems ourselves and keep the money for our 'freedom' goal :-)))
Madeleine.x
Madeleine,
DeleteCongratulations on your impending freedom from bank bondage. Freedom goals are good goals. Here is to more freedom for all of us in 2018.
I don't enjoy the holidays anymore because of the focus on gifts. There are five of us "kids" the youngest is 35! The den at my stepfathers' house was full of wrapped gifts. There are 3 grandkids. Two are teenagers & one is a tween. To me it's just disgusting and a waste. Stuff that everybody has a lot of. One sister got handbags (she has at least 30) another one got more makeup (she can open her own makeup store). I told them I don't want anything but they gave me pyjamas that I don't need & the pants are so big it falls off me anyway & a blanket that I don't need since I have enough blankets. One brother said he has my gift at his house. I bet it will be something that I don't need. I suffer from depression & the stress of the holidays aren't helping one bit.
ReplyDeleteAnon,
DeleteMandatory gift giving is stressful for me. The whole thing has become a major downer for many people, which is too bad. We need a good coming together this time of year, but not one based on mindless consumerism and gift competition. Can't we just exchange love, compassion, and mutual support? Changing our traditions is difficult, but not impossible. People everywhere are simplifying their holiday season. Perhaps one day it will happen in your family, too. Hope you are feeling better.