Comments on: What would you like to change about the holiday season?

By: Rick_Juliusson

Rick_Juliusson — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:10:01 +0000

Thanks for your openness to my rather indelicately-worded challenge. Any or all of your 3 propositions here sound very fair to feel. Our family still struggles with the best ways to present our values and “rules” to our families and community, and I know we don't always succeed in making it a positive experience for them or for us.

By: Cobby

Cobby — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:00:34 +0000

You have a good point. Maybe my issue has more to do with feeling like it was disrespectful of her to wait until so close to the holidays to broach the topic. Maybe it has more to do with feeling like her behavior is passive-aggressive. Maybe I am more upset that her approach to philanthropy seems to be a once a year thing, when I see it as a year-round effort. I don't know, but I'm just going to try to let it go.

By: Rick_Juliusson

Rick_Juliusson — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:36:08 +0000

I've often offended my family with the same “no-gifts” request, or tight restrictions on the types of gifts allowable for our children. But I'd rather offend them at that time than offend them even further (and waste their money and energy and environmental costs) by just taking their gift to the thrift shop afterwards. If your mother-in-law truly does not want more stuff, than how does giving her more stuff show any respect for her desires and sources of happiness?

By: Ellen

Ellen — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:45:16 +0000

This year I have seen many changes for the better, in my opinion, even if they reflect the sagging economy instead of heightened spirituality…Christmas catalogs in November instead of August….fewer gaudy decorations, etc.

This year I am celebrating the holiday with a month of reflection and spiritual focus. I am bringing the light into myself and sharing it with the rest of the world. I have a small nagging regret that I can't buy a gift for my Sweetheart (last year I gave him a laptop) but those gifts don't bring fulfillment past a momentary rush. Each day this holiday season I devote some time to thoroughly cleaning one small corner of the house. Those small corners add up to one clean, comfortable home!

By: Cobby

Cobby — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:05:45 +0000

I would like to ban the big corporate Christmas Party. Instead of spending lots of money on a downtown hotel, band, food, liquor and other little crappy party perks. I would prefer that we do a casual catered lunch together and maybe spend the afternoon volunteering as a company together.

I also had a new experience this year that I would like to ban. My mother-in-law sent me an e-mail yesterday telling me that they do not want more “stuff” to “dust and keep up with” and that she wanted us to donate to our favorite charity in their name. Well, that would be all good and fine if I hadn't planned ahead and bought her two nice thoughtful presents at the beginning of November (the sales of which happen to benefit my favorite non-profit). I suppose I could give them to another family member who would appreciate them. I know I'm probably being overly touchy, but I was actually offended. So I want to ban people from telling other people to not buy them gifts. To each his or her own.

By: Alison

Alison — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:49:19 +0000

Exactly what I'd like to change about the world. People's minds.

By: Traci

Traci — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:38:31 +0000

You're right. And this is exactly what I've always hated about Valentine's Day. Why on Earth do we need a designated day to tell our loved ones that we love them? Ridiculous.

By: Elisabeth

Elisabeth — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:34:38 +0000

I would have people be less concerned with what they “should” do or what's expected of them, and just do what brings joy.

By: Natasha_L

Natasha_L — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:23:38 +0000

Defintely no carols before the 1st. Restoration Hardward had carols playing before Oct 31st this year! I'd like to see people get more creative with everything from meals to gifts to decorating. And it would be cool if we could focus more on creating a holiday for ourselves instead of reiterating how “commercial” the holidays can be – business is business, the holidays are what you make them.

By: Daniel Gibbons

Daniel Gibbons — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 19:48:38 +0000

I'd like it if the festive spirit was, well, non-alcoholic. It's really upsetting that people see the holidays as an excuse to get drunk all day every day.