(Art Work at ChristmasHawaii.com)I didn’t decorate my house for Christmas this year. I don’t have an excuse other than pure laziness. The odd thing is, it hasn’t dampened my Christmas spirit at all. Since I'm not living amid the tons of decorations I usually spread around my house and fretting about when I’m going to have time to take it all down, I’m enjoying a clutter-free and stress-free Christmas. This has had the unexpected side effect of actually making me feel more Christ-mas-y.
We also pulled names for buying presents among my brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews which cut my Christmas shopping by about ninety percent. So, instead of trying to find just the right thing for eleven people, I was able to concentrate on finding the perfect gift(s) for just one person. It’s not that I don’t enjoy buying for everyone, but I really enjoyed buying for one. It felt more personal.
By eliminating the shopping stress and the decorating/cluttered house stress, I’ve broken through some invisible barrier that I didn’t even realize was there and I can see more clearly the original reason people began celebrating Christmas. I’m not one of those people who object to the crass commercialism and the non-Christian aspects of the holiday. Anything that puts people in a festive mood is fine by me.
It’s just that, without the distraction of the traditional Christmas paraphernalia of snowmen and stockings and trees spread throughout my house, it feels more like I’m in preparation for an actual birthday party. Maybe I’ll pull out my Tiki/Luau birthday decorations and celebrate the actual birthday of Jesus in my own way rather than the whole Silent Night Holy Night version that we’re accustomed to.
Happy Birthday, Jesus and mahalo.
15 comments:
Good thinkin'. Guess this means I can throw Jesus a kegger, huh?
I'm glad you've found peace and good will, Laurie. But have you noticed the days keep getting shorter and shorter? At this rate, I think there's a good chance we'll be cast into eternal darkness pretty soon. Last year, we had a wild "rite of fertility" when this happened, and things turned around right after that. I don't know if it appeased the gods or what, but do you think we should do it again, just to be on the safe side?
Hi dear, I love your "Different Thinking" on Christmas this year.
It is always great to stop and really think of the same routine we can get into on Hoildays. HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND GOD BLESS TO YOU AND ALL OF YOUR READERS.
God bless and merry Christmas Laurie, and to Mom as well.
Jen - Why not? Just be sure everyone would only do what Jesus would do and I think Jesus would probably prefer wine to the beer. You better make a run to Spec's.
Larry - All rites of fertility are strongly encouraged here. Chant on.
Mom - Merry Christmas to you, too, Mom!!!
Peter - Have a Merry Merry Christmas down under, mate!
I got a feeling Jesus (Big J to his friends) is more of a Scotch guy,
Monoalikahocka or what ever the heck Bing Crosby sang
Al - I wonder if he has a taste for Rebel Yell? I've heard that if you drink enough of it, you see God.
I quit celebrating Commercial Christmas years ago and have since celebrated Religious Christmas. I buy presents for three people, my parents, brother and wife. The rest get cards. It saddens me to think of what Christmas is coming to mean.
Love your Christmas. Good for you! I wish everyone were like you and I and teach those retailing bastards that Christmas shouldn't be about greed.
Nowwwwwwwwww I get the "aloha" from your comment. Cool.
You are a genius! Merry Christmas to you and your family. May the Lord Bless you, may He Keep you, and may He give you peace. xoxo Poodles
verification: ijrkwc
I jerked Wang Chi????
Ed - Merry Christmas! Sounds like you have a plan.
Abby - I LOVED the dinosaurs around the nativity. I did put it on my desktop at home. It reminds me of something my 25 year old son would have done at 4 years old.
Poodles - Merry Christmas to you, too. (I can't wait for Wang Chi to see your password verification sentence!)
This is a refreshing outlook, my friend, and I applaud you for it. I did a similar blog around this time last year and it's so nice to hear that they ARE actually others who realize what this time of year should truly be about. A very Merry Christmas to you and yours and here's wishing you a happy & prosperous New Year to come!
New Mrs. F - Right back at ya, my friend!
Good girl! That's exactly how I do things every year. Glad I'm not the only one.
Kimberly - There is a small army of us. We shall overcome!
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