Here we are, just weeks before Christmas. How are you doing? Maybe you’re loving every minute, maybe loving some, hating others, or maybe this is just not your time of year and you’re really struggling. Whatever your feelings, I want to share some bits and bobs of things that have inspired me for this time of big emotions.
ON GIFT GIVING
Don’t get caught up in consumerism. Every year I stress about all the gift giving. It feels like too much pressure to buy the perfect gift at the perfect price for all 20 or so people on my list. Will they like it? Will it end up in the landfill? I’ll never know. So, a couple ideas I’m keeping in mind:
· Slow shopping. “Slow shopping is a financial trend that pushes people to be more intentional with their spending and purchases, focusing on being more mindful with what you’re buying, why you’re buying it and how much you’re spending on the purchase.” Black Friday, which is now pretty much Black Friday Week and Boxing Day/Boxing Week are such an intense time of Buy Now impulse buying drama, so do yourself a favour and make sure you list out what you need to buy AND what you Do NOT need to buy (i.e. Rat Diet No. 3: Black Friday Edition).
· Gift items that can be easily consumed and don’t take up space in someone’s home, like wine, baking, MONCILLO Fig & Italian Lemon Countertop Spray, DIY Stovetop Potpourri, Salt Rinse Foaming Body Wash, Salty Chocolate Caramels, Milk and Sugar Candle, etc.
· Gift books that can be shared or regifted. My oldest is currently in preschool, so there is a lot for him to learn about differences and acceptance. I’ve ordered We’re All Wonders by RJ Palacio which is intended to promote empathy and understanding. I want to encourage him to be a supportive peer and to know that not everyone communicates or regulates the same way. It is interesting to me that neurodivergence is being talked about more recently, and yet it has likely been a part of the human experience all along. It’s possible that it’s just modern life that makes it debilitating. A book I plan to share with friends is Katherine May’s neurodiverse memoir, Wintering which is “a thoughtful exploration of self-discovery through the natural rhythms of winter wisdom”. May writes:
In a quieter world, a less hurried one, without the whine of mobile phones and the ceaseless electronic drone of voices from the radio and TV; without the noisy surges of hand-dryers and the bleeping of train doors; without the flat plastic unknowable surfaces and the dry-air
containment of office life; without pulsing lights and the ceaseless sense of personal availability. Without all of these things, I might have been different.
Shop local. Many of the shops around Kindersley and area have lovely items for gift giving, Crafted Hand, Studio306, Baask, MonAmie, Kraz E Threads, LaBelle Boutique, Fresh, Clementine, Cameron’s Clothing Co., Prairie Rose Floral, and many more. One item I know I’ll be buying for a few kids on my list are the Yeti Bottles from Supreme Source for Sports. These bottles are the best value for how long lasting they are. I’ve gone through countless kids’ water bottles, and Yeti is the first brand that has proved longevity.
Shop for shared experiences. I walked into Garden Gallery by Devon Coles the other day and that is a delight. Just looking around at all the beautiful pieces was an experience. He offers art classes, group or private. Plus, if you have any memorabilia pieces or art that you need framed for your sad beige walls, he has an abundance of beautiful options, an artist’s eye and archival materials to preserve the piece.
ON STRESS LEVELS/BEING
Explore Digital Minimalism. Author, Cal Newport believes it’s the key to help you stay focused in a noisy world. Think about how often you’d like to interact with your devices. Put a digital minimalism strategy in place. Maybe you want to minimize interacting with your phone until the evenings or stay off social media for a couple weeks during the holidays or hand your phone over to your partner or friends as soon as you arrive at someone’s home.
Go for walks outside. Nothing cures a hurried or worried mind more quickly than a walk outside. Bundle up and head out to breathe the cold air in.
Stay home when sick. It is the season for sickness and if you’re like me, your household has had its fair share already. This time of year is a great one to go ahead and try the art of Prousting. The practice of working in bed. It might just be your best time spent.
All this said, I hope you’re finding calm and ease in a season that should be full of merrymaking and love. And if nothing else, share with those in need, because that’s what Christmas truly is about.
For full recommendations and links head over to KindersleySocial.ca.
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.
