Among Friends

[Keeper of the koi]

After packing away the decorations and labeling things that are new, I always retrieve a notebook i keep with everything, I have been doing this from the first year i was married 24 years ago. i had some extra time to read from years past this week, .First i did my  yearly  writing.  This year was so diffrent it was peaceful  reflective and joyful, instead of buying we simply gave some cash  to the younger  family members and an ornament, my inlaws got an electric kettle, they have money but live simply .  they use it several times aday, i had paid attention  , they thank me everytime I see  them. We said no to parties, instead put on the christmas lights and talked about our past  holidays ,it was just my husband and furbabys , but it was everything. New years eve, it was just us again , we talked of spring and plans for the koi pond , building a glass  old fashioned  green house.  quiet  was wonderful, our souls were full. This made me think , do we live for our joy or from obligation? Yes there are things we have to do, but how much do we enjoy doing?This year i baked for 40 of our customers, funny the phones rang always thanking us for the kind gesture and thinking of them, my husband enjoyed delivering goodies fresh out of the oven , his car smelled like a bakery he would  laugh. I am promising myself to make life easier ,more simple, less forced. It is amazing the lessons we learn  simply by living...Maryanne

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[RetRN]

Thus the trends of minimalism and tiny houses. People are finding out that all of the materialism wasn't bringing them the joy they anticipated. Money can reduce stress, but is isn't always the answer. Good health trumps all.

[chrystaltree]

That's nice, if it brings you peace.  I'm not sure of the point you are making.  I hear people talk about holiday stress and the money and commercialism and how joyless and tiring and whatever the holidays are.  I'm 56 and I can't relate to that at all.  Yes, it's ture Christmas is "bigger" than it once was but that doesn't make it less meaningful, it certainly doesn't take any of the fun, wonder and joy out of it.  Christmas is what we make it.  If small, personal and laid back is what feels right to a person; that's the type of Christmas they should have.  What others are doing and giving is irrelevant.  I've never felt obligated to give or entertain.  I do it because I want to.  There were years in our life when I was  sahm and hubby was working 2 jobs and we had kids and big mortgage and we didnt't do a lot of entertaining and gift giving.  I'd give cookies and mini banana breads and the kids would make little things.  I'm sure our family and friends appreciated those things as much as they appreciated the more expensive gifts we bought when our financial situation improved.  We never gave gifts because we felt pressured.  I suppose it has already been a part of who I am, I never had to learn that lesson.

[blackhole99]

If you enjoy the holidays you do and if you think it's too much work and expensive , it probably is. I always felt pressured at holiday time and after my Mom died I just decided I wasn't doing it any more.No gifts, no big fancy dinners or parties and if I don't feel like visiting folks I don't. I think more people are just doing their own thing these days instead of buying into all the hype. The people who are always saying how busy they are want to be busy, they don't get sympathy from me.

[libbyannE]

We always keep it simple, but it was even more so this year. Between worries iver elderly parents and over the world situation, I just wasn't in the mood, not that I didn't do a lot of praying.

[Keeper of the koi]

@@Chrystalaltree, my point was , sometimes without meaning to life happens in the right direction, i didnt mean to have a different christmas, somehow  life  changed in a good place. just sharing...

[chrystaltree]

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@Keeper of the koi wrote:

@@Chrystalaltree, my point was , sometimes without meaning to life happens in the right direction, i didnt mean to have a different christmas, somehow  life  changed in a good place. just sharing...

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Sorry, I think all the talk about no parties and no gifts and baking for customers and quiet time started me thinking in that direction and I missed the part about the changes in your life.

[LTT1]

@Keeper of the koi

Im so happy that your "different" kind of Christmas brought you joy! That is a very happy thing!

[Keeper of the koi]

@chrystaltree,no  problem life just unfolded diffrently it was happy, thank you  all is  good. have a special  new year filled with 

great things!

[ECBG]

Our Christmas was hard.  As the matriarch of the family and because of DS and DIL, the decisions do fall to me.  I keep the traditions and create the holiday for everyone.  (Anyone would help if it were possible, but it isn't.).  This year my sister came from a long way off after she had two issues with cancer as well as a small begin brain tumor removed.  One can never be prepared for anything like that.  I do wish it had been at a time when things were calmer and I could have had more time with her.