A Simple Christmas
I just got home from my first craft show of the season- crowded, hot, and overwhelming with people and stuff. I do admire the creativity and people’s courage to present their hard work to the world, judged by sales. But I just can’t help thinking “Do we really need another scented candle, cloth pot holder, or painted rock? Where does the pressure to find and purchase ‘just the right present’ for everyone come from? Then there are all of the Holiday parties and cookie swaps we feel the need to cram in for the next month. Call me Grinch or call me exhausted. Could we prioritize some of this gift buying and party-going to a manageable level? What if this year was different? What if we said NO to the good so that we can say Yes to the best?
Adventconspiracy.org is a Christian movement founded on the radical idea that we can celebrate Christmas humbly, beautifully, generously, and simply. The concept is to encourage us to focus on four areas: worship/connect fully, spend less, give more, and love well while we try to let go of the rest.
*Connect fully– Intentionally connect with a power outside yourself: With God, with nature, or a greater love. Call a friend and listen fully. Listen to your favorite holiday music while you disengage with social media. In a world full of noise, be intentional about quiet time.
*Spend less– free up your resources to support things that truly matter. Resist the consumerism of Christmas. Consider gifts of quality time and experience instead. Ask yourself, “Why do I want to buy this?”
*Give more (of yourself)- intentionally and relationally. Relational gifts may include an on-line class, a thoughtful journal you could share with your daughter, or cooking together over zoom. Consider gifts that relieve a burden: babysit, help with yard work, make a meal. Be present (in person or virtually) with the ones you love.
*Love all– In tangible ways, love and serve the forgotten, the poor, the marginalized. Be the person with an extra dose of patience this week. Practice random acts of kindness, give a compliment to a stranger, volunteer, or have a conversation with someone who has different beliefs than you do.
As you plan your year ahead, consider the concept of Essentialism. We recognize there’s so much we have to do, so we try to do it all. “Our society is consumed with wanting more and that’s why we consistently take on additional things,” states Greg McKeown author of Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Doing Less. McKeown defines a different way of thinking/living: “Essentialism is not about how to get more things done; it’s about how to get the right things done. It doesn’t mean just doing less for the sake of less either. It’s about making the wisest possible investment of your time and energy in order to operate at our highest point of contribution by doing only what is essential.”
This concept is quite a contrast to our usual hectic holiday season of buying presents, party hopping, and eating/drinking too much! Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, I hope you can find some inspiration during this holiday season. For everyone, my wish for you is that you will find the peace and joy in the true meaning of Christmas!
Resources:
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Doing Less by Greg McKeown
Link to Advent Conspiracy website: https://adventconspiracy.org/
For ideas on relational gifts and a registry: https://sokindregistry.org/ideas
Thanks for joining us in this place of encouragement and inspiration, A few things you should know: You are loved and complete just the way you are AND you can make small changes in your life to find wellbeing in mind, body and spirit.
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Be Well, Trish