A Mom and More

“Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.”
-Oren Arnold

When I was younger, gainfully employed and had the luxury of time, I’d start shopping for Christmas gifts for my parents, siblings, other relatives, friends, coworkers, business associates, and godchildren as early as July.  I kept a list of people I had to buy gifts, send cards, or treat out for Christmas lunch or  dinner.  And, for myself I’d spend a sizable sum to prepare for all the Christmas parties I’d have to attend by buying new clothes, shoes, bags, and accessories (as if I were the Celebrant).

With each coming Christmas, I’d update my list and make sure that I’d leave no one out.  Through the years, I’d have additions to my list that I’d become as busy as a Santa’s elves weeks before the 25th of December — wrapping my gifts and doing rush shopping for someone not in my list but who hands me a gift.    At times, I even have to buy a second gift for a friend if I find out that I receive one which is too expensive compared to the gift that I gave away.

Over the years, I’ve experienced increasing stress as my gift shopping list continuously expanded.  With my desire to buy the better gifts for those who are dearer to me, I end up frustrated since I no longer have time nor the funds to get them what they want. Eventually, I felt I’ve missed the true essence of gift giving — that of giving out of love, giving from the heart,  and giving of one’s self.   But I still continued giving since my gift recipients have learned to expect a gift from me each and every year and would feel slighted if I didn’t.

But, after I retired and times became harder and harder — even if I wanted to continue giving gifts to everyone, I had to change my gift-giving mindset.  I began trimming down my gift shopping list until I have pared them down to the barest essentials: my immediate family members, my coworkers  in school, and a couple of close friends who have shared my journey (through thick or thin).

Starting this Christmas, I thought I’d do themed gifting for my loved ones to begin a new trend in my personal gift giving cycle.  I’ve chosen a theme similar to the global environmentalists’ cry:  reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Reduce

• spending using credit cards and scout for the best price before buying a gift;
• gift shopping for only the most important people (my family) and most worthy recipients (the workers and helpers who have been my “angels” in school) — to reduce undue stress;
• clutter and piles of stuff for my gift recipient by giving a gift check or card, a magazine or online subscription, a concert ticket, a spa or facial coupon, a book or food certificate to a gift recipient’s favorite store or restaurant;
• unwanted pounds, fats and calories gained by my recipient by omitting sweets, cakes, and cookies and substituting them with fresh fruits, juices, and non-oily seasoning and homemade condiments.

Reuse

• old gift wrappers, cardboard, boxes, pieces of cloth, plastic, ribbons and other wrapping paraphernalia to wrap my gift creatively;
• Christmas cards as gift tags instead of buying a deck of new cards;
• sturdy paper bags from international brand shops to carry several  gifts for individual family members;
• idle materials and craft them into great personalized gifts to be kept for years as gifts of valuable time;
• and revive my talent for writing my own Christmas greeting for e-cards rather than buying others’ canned commercial greetings; making short poems or prayers using my gift recipients initials or letters of his/her name;

Recycle

• a friend’s photos from an old scrapbook and have it collaged for a photo mug, a shirt, a memorabilia frame, or mouse pad to rekindle friendship and remind a good friend of times past;
• an unwanted item from the closet, read-but-almost new books gathering dust in the bookshelves, a hastily bought clothing or houseware on sale which has never been used for years, an extra corporate gift — to give to someone who will find it useful or to sell on ebay or other auction sites for cash to use for other gifts;
• quotes which I have been collecting by compiling them into a stack of inspirationals grouped according to subject matter;
• my kids’ artwork by having it professionally framed, and given away for an aunt or uncle’s den;
• by patronizing eco-friendly groups selling items from recycled materials.

I am sure that my reduce, reuse, and recycle theme this Christmas would not only ease my stress but it would also refocus, reorient, and rechannel my gift giving to the true meaning, the real reason for  the Christmas season and Christ’s birth:  giving of one’s self, sharing from the heart, and loving beyond Christmas time — not just others but myself as well.

Any other gift ideas to match my gift theme this year?

Tags: Christmas gifts, eco-friendly, recylce, reduce, reuse, true meaning of Christmas