Not sure if it's the same emotion or not, but my holiday blues are a combination of nostalgia and awakening - the realization that another year has passed, and just how quickly the time has flown by, and an occasional moment of regret for not having accomplished more. This year is significantly happier than last because 2006 was a whopper of a year, with so much accomplished, but you still have to step back and look at the opportunity costs, the things you weren't able to capitalize on, and the wish that you had.
That, and the fact that outside of the communities we participate in, mainstream society has transformed the holidays into a vicious consumer binge where people are actually killing each other over stupid toys that will lose all of their inflated, perceived value on December 26. The holidays can bring out the best or worst in us.
What I usually do to alleviate it is something in the community. Each year, we blow a wad of cash at Kohl's to buy their Children's Hospital stuffed animals, which we then turn around and dump right into the Toys for Tots bin at the State Police. If community is what we desire, then it's a legacy of service we need to leave behind.
chrisbrogan
· 3 years ago
I think that's a great idea, especially the way your effort helps two organizations at once.
I wonder if there's a way to add some kind of video storytelling or community journalism into the experience as well. Maybe if there were a way to reach out, donate or support in some way, and then go in another direction by raising the visibility of various communities or projects that show need, etc.
What video project would be of value to this as an add-on to the giving and social ideas we come up with?
Whitney
· 3 years ago
I understand the Xmas blues, and I would imagine they might be a bit more rough this year since your grandfather passed away this fall. I know the hardest part for me sometimes is missing my dad and grandma, and knowing what a kick they would have gotten out of the kids at christmas. For adults, I think the "you have to go buy stuff for people" part of the season feels false and forced, rather than a genuine sense of wanting to make someone happy and surprised. I had more fun making cookies this weekend for the kids, and their sneaking a bit a dough, than I ever get shopping for anything. I had a blast putting together a care package for a new media friend- the general theme of which is "Remember what Christmas was like as a child". To me, the fun of the season is in the silly- the stocking stuffers designed to make someone laugh; like atomic fireballs and lemonheads. If we can at least visit our inner child, maybe even take them out to lunch over the holidays- we can get a bit of the joy back. My favorite t-shirt of the season is "disguised as a responsible adult".
We started making donations to Heifer international for adult gifts to co-workers and the like- giving in lieu of stuff. They give chickens, sheep, etc. to people in third world countries, to help raise their standard of living. We also like Habitat for Humanity, and the idea of providing homes for those who can't afford one otherwise. I also do a couple things around Xmas- besides the can drives at the kids schools, and helping specific families through the school programs, At least once during the season, we try to take kids down to the Sunday Breakfast Mission in town- the Soup Kitchen, with a donation of food and/or cash. They are a little young to volunteer in prep or serving, but they need to know how lucky they are, too. And if you don't have a visual demonstration of need, you don't understand. We can talk about it all day, but something closer at hand is needed. Yeah, I occassionally get caught up in the search for the Wii for the kids, (lined up at 8:45 yesterday morning at the EB Games to find out none were received...) but we've also gone for experience over things as a general rule. One year we took them to Discovery Cove in FL as their gift, and they got to swim with the dolphins. The "making memories" is much more important than any 'thing' we could ever give them. I'm now trying to think of how we should capture this on video- demonstrate what matters to others, as well as how to count our blessings. Maybe a twelve days of christmas, the way we want it to be.... interacting and helping others. Coming together and finding our blessings are our friends.
All Comments
That, and the fact that outside of the communities we participate in, mainstream society has transformed the holidays into a vicious consumer binge where people are actually killing each other over stupid toys that will lose all of their inflated, perceived value on December 26. The holidays can bring out the best or worst in us.
What I usually do to alleviate it is something in the community. Each year, we blow a wad of cash at Kohl's to buy their Children's Hospital stuffed animals, which we then turn around and dump right into the Toys for Tots bin at the State Police. If community is what we desire, then it's a legacy of service we need to leave behind.
I wonder if there's a way to add some kind of video storytelling or community journalism into the experience as well. Maybe if there were a way to reach out, donate or support in some way, and then go in another direction by raising the visibility of various communities or projects that show need, etc.
What video project would be of value to this as an add-on to the giving and social ideas we come up with?
For adults, I think the "you have to go buy stuff for people" part of the season feels false and forced, rather than a genuine sense of wanting to make someone happy and surprised. I had more fun making cookies this weekend for the kids, and their sneaking a bit a dough, than I ever get shopping for anything. I had a blast putting together a care package for a new media friend- the general theme of which is "Remember what Christmas was like as a child". To me, the fun of the season is in the silly- the stocking stuffers designed to make someone laugh; like atomic fireballs and lemonheads. If we can at least visit our inner child, maybe even take them out to lunch over the holidays- we can get a bit of the joy back. My favorite t-shirt of the season is "disguised as a responsible adult".
We started making donations to Heifer international for adult gifts to co-workers and the like- giving in lieu of stuff. They give chickens, sheep, etc. to people in third world countries, to help raise their standard of living. We also like Habitat for Humanity, and the idea of providing homes for those who can't afford one otherwise.
I also do a couple things around Xmas- besides the can drives at the kids schools, and helping specific families through the school programs, At least once during the season, we try to take kids down to the Sunday Breakfast Mission in town- the Soup Kitchen, with a donation of food and/or cash. They are a little young to volunteer in prep or serving, but they need to know how lucky they are, too. And if you don't have a visual demonstration of need, you don't understand. We can talk about it all day, but something closer at hand is needed.
Yeah, I occassionally get caught up in the search for the Wii for the kids, (lined up at 8:45 yesterday morning at the EB Games to find out none were received...) but we've also gone for experience over things as a general rule. One year we took them to Discovery Cove in FL as their gift, and they got to swim with the dolphins. The "making memories" is much more important than any 'thing' we could ever give them.
I'm now trying to think of how we should capture this on video- demonstrate what matters to others, as well as how to count our blessings. Maybe a twelve days of christmas, the way we want it to be.... interacting and helping others. Coming together and finding our blessings are our friends.