I've been industrious this evening, and I stayed up past my bedtime. I am trying to live up to my values, and it will take time to accomplish. I've been doing this since the weekend, but planning it longer. And this was before Facebook's memory algorithm reminded me that I've espoused these ideals before.
I get a little itchy around gift-giving times of year. Once upon a time, I loved buying presents for people. I spent money when I had it, and went into debt when I didn't. All I aimed for was an overwhelming pile of presents for my family under the tree. When the kids were little, I loved buying them clothes and toys and books and movies and anything I could think of. Then, about the time they were finishing high school, a switch flipped. It became much harder to do this, although I kept trying for a few years after the urge really left me. I have tried to look inside my heart to see why I struggle so to buy gifts, for kids, parents, siblings, friends, or co-workers. I thought I had it figured out a year or two back, but I can't say for sure that I ever really had. I still enjoy watching people exchange gifts, and I do like to get them. But the imagination work has become a bridge too far for me. If someone tells me something they would like to receive, I can usually do it. If you don't know, then don't look at me to figure it out. That part of me is broken. I'd love to fix it someday.
This year, I am trying hard to add back in the personal touch, and I'm getting a head start on it now. Maybe this is actually late, but it feels early to me. I'm going to make things, especially for the kids. I have some materials to work with now, and that's what I stayed up late doing. I figure something homemade, combined with something consumable, might be enough to shake me out of my current difficulty. It probably won't be a permanent fix, but I'm willing to give it a shot.
Today's Facebook memory was from several years ago, when they first started pushing the "Small Business Saturday" stuff on television. This ties into the other action item on my list -- to buy all pre-made gifts from small businesses in town. None of us needs a pile of stuff from Target, but if I can give a little love to the Main Street shops in my hometown, then I will do it. But the memory today -- it was a commentary on Small Business Saturday being sponsored by American Express. You know, all credit cards charge a fee, usually a couple percent, on all transactions. My idea was to promise to pay cash. Is it that hard? Plan on doing most of your shopping at locally owned businesses, and pay cash for as many of your gifts that you can. It's not radical. We don't have to give up plastic forever. But think about your neighbors who are hoping for a good winter holiday season, at their bookshops, hardware stores, liquor stores, or jewelry stores. Maybe get gift cards for locally owned restaurants and coffee shops, rather than the chains. Don't do it only on November 25th. Do it for the whole season, whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Saturnalia, Kwanzaa, or Festivus. WalMart will still be around in January. Think smaller. Much, much smaller. And pay cash, just this once.
No comments:
Post a Comment