Ba humbug! It can't be just me?

[hazelb]

I struggle with Christmas every year and it seems to be getting worse.

I feel burdened by expectations of who I've got to drop in and see, and what's expected of me by the relatives. There have been wall to wall Chirstmas adds on TV and hubby has been on a spending spree buying himself a new tv and sound bar that I nether want or need. I just seem to be surrounded by blatant consumerism.

I like simple pleasures in life and would much rather have a simple life where it's whats on the inside that matters. I think commercialism is getting worse..do you?

It certainly has been a growing feeling I've had over the last few years. I think I might try and find a charity that need xmas help before my soul gets sucked out of me by all this stuff.

Maybe I'm just a bit more sensitive to this stuff as I work as a holistic thrapist.

Do any of you feel the same?

 

[CFBS]

Yes I agree. Christmas is very commercial now. For those with kids it's even worse as they demand everything they see on television.
I live in a small village which helps because we do a village Christmas lunch where we all pitch in, donate to charity rather than send cards and have carol services. These things bring you back in touch with what Christmas is about. Religious or not it's a time to think of others .

A town near us asks for volunteers to help out with lunches for the homeless around Christmas. Perhaps there is a scheme near you that does this sort of thing? You only go for a few hours so no huge commitment.

 

[Jen889]

I agree with Christmas being too commercial. People go broke trying to get the biggest, best, latest gifts. This year my boyfriend and I decided to bake cookies for our family and package them up with a drink (hot chocolate, apple cider, wine etc) depending on that person's tastes. It's a gift from the heart.

In my family I'm the youngest at 28, no one needs anything and if we do we all work and buy it for ourselves. Now, it's all about the thought and not the price tag.

 

[hazelb]

Yes I agree. Christmas is very commercial now. For those with kids it's even worse as they demand everything they see on television.
I live in a small village which helps because we do a village Christmas lunch where we all pitch in, donate to charity rather than send cards and have carol services. These things bring you back in touch with what Christmas is about. Religious or not it's a time to think of others .

A town near us asks for volunteers to help out with lunches for the homeless around Christmas. Perhaps there is a scheme near you that does this sort of thing? You only go for a few hours so no huge commitment.

That seems the perfect sot of thing to me. I did try looking for charities that needed help feeding homeless etc..but the one's I could find near me were fully booked with volunteers.

Hubby thinks I've gone nuts and can't understand why I'm so miserable, he did suggest putting a bundle of food we don't need and donating that.

 

[CFBS]

Local food banks look for volunteers throughout the year.
Might be one near you?