“[The holiday experience] has long since become too busy, too expensive, too centered around acquiring that which we do not need. In fact, it’s the perfect crystallization of the American economy — the American consumer experience squeezed into a manic week, a week that people find themselves hoping will soon end so that on January 2, they can return to the mere routine hecticity of their lives.”
So writes Bill McKibben in an article titled “The Problem with Christmas,” which according to McKibben is that nobody really likes it anymore. He goes on to hypothesize that *time* — giving gifts involving time, spending time serving others or making time to savor the simpler joys of the season — may be the solution.
A sampling of his ideas:
· Give the gift of your future time: a coupon for a back rub, a homemade meal.
· Give the gift of your past time: a jar of preserves made by hand, a stack of firewood piled up neatly in the backyard.
· Give a contribution in someone’s honor: buy a dairy goat in their name for a Tanzanian family who hadn’t had milk before.
· Begin a family tradition of exchanging used books rather than more new stuff.
· Begin a family tradition of wandering through the park tossing seed so the birds can celebrate.
· Begin a family tradition of serving supper together at the Salvation Army.
· Give yourself some silence, or someone else some companionship.
To read McKibben’s whole article, click through to www.grist.org/feature/2007/11/20/say-no/index.html.
o< :)
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