Play Play Play!

This is always a funny week, the week after Thanksgiving. The societal pull is frenetic, spastic, telling us to hurry up! This sale won't last! Hurry up - the deal is over at midnight! My email inbox is flooded - literally flooded - with zillions of sale notices and the tone of each and every one is - HURRY, or else you might miss out!

You guys. What would happen if we didn't care? Didn't care to MISS OUT.

I can't let myself get overrun by the holiday crazy. So much about the holidays is just wonderful - the meaning of the season, the traditions, the surprise, and especially the wonder. I am finding myself wonder-fied over and over again, because I am introducing my son to the season of Christmas and it is so much delicious fun. He saw a house lit up in icicle lights in our neighborhood the other night, and he was absolutely mesmerized. He just stared. Then clapped. It was THE BEST. He definitely saw lights last year, but it's a whole new year - and he is so much more aware. He opened his first Christmas gift with my sisters over the weekend, and there it was again - the wonder! That distinguished moment of pure, radiant, child-like joy. It was enough to make me like a giddy little girl again. The wonder of the season! That is the good stuff that I want to remember and focus on.

And then I open my email, and literally, all I see are "Cyber week savings!", "Last Day! 50% off!", "30% off starts now!"

I know what you're thinking. Delete your emails, girl.

I totally agree with you.

The thing is, I love a good sale, and I have no problem with a bit of hoopla. I just think it's important to not let the hoards of hoopla rock the internal compass of this season. I want to buy gifts and give gifts, because I am a crazy gifting person. It's one of my favorite things to do. But there is a point where the consumerism suddenly becomes like when you ate one too many cookie. The sugar doesn't taste good, and sort of turns to ash in your mouth. That's how I feel about all the sales and promotions and consumerism - it's just ash. Tomorrow there will be another deal, and another, and another. And suddenly, its not satisfying anymore because DO WE REALLY NEED THIS STUFF. I'm realizing it's my job to remove myself from all of it.

I am reeeeeally close to being totally done Christmas shopping. And it's on me to finish my list, and then be done - and not get sucked into overspending, or lusting after more than I need/want. It's my responsibility. And the one way that I am managing going about that this year?

First, I am going to finish my Christmas list.

And then I am going to play play play!

Get outside and throw around some leaves and remember what it's like. To be a kid. And play. Play hard. Play like it's my job. Man, kids have the best life. They aren't tempted by the notion of a good sale. They are expected to eat well, sleep long and play hard.

That's what I wish for you this Christmas season. Eat well, sleep long, and play hard, friends.