This year I have been making a bit more of an effort to get myself into the Christmas spirit. Don't get me wrong, I still love the festive season and all it offers, but it has lost that little bit of… sparkle, I suppose? As a child Christmas was pretty much the best day of the year, potentially even topping birthdays and those days you found an ice cream truck in the middle of nowhere. The tumultuous teenage years that saw me try to work out a bit more about myself saw me change my interests multiple times, and we all had those moments of "not more clothes" (not know, clothing vouchers are always a request from me!). Growing older also saw my transition from being a sole present recipient to being a present buyer. I started working when I was fifteen, and I have been buying presents ever since. This used to be bit of a drag for me, but know I love giving gifts more than receiving them. I've also found that now that I am edging my way into adulthood, I always seem to know what I am getting for Christmas. It's still great to get the gift, but the excitement is somewhat lost when you unwrap a gift you chose yourself. My increasing awareness about the consumerist culture of Christmas can often dampen the occasion now too (I recently read this fantastic article and it really highlights this issue in Australia). Having spent my teenage years working in retail, I have witnessed many child tantrums and stressed individuals under the pressure of Christmas.
But this year I am trying to get myself back into this mood of the season. Our little Christmas tree was up on December 1st, I've spent hours trying to find perfect gifts, and planned some Christmas baking. Chris is even on the hunt for matching Christmas t-shirts for us to wear, but I'm not so convinced that I could actually wear one! I'm not going over the top, but I am trying to find the right groove for myself and Chris for the season. I would love to be able to make more gifts myself, but as of yet I don't have the time or expertise to do so!
And it's starting to pay off. A bit more of a positive outlook and reflection, and now I am counting down the days until Christmas!
Have you changed how you think about Christmas over the years? Is there anything you do to help get yourself in the spirit?
Reanna.
You mean I'm not the only one who started to feel "Grinchy" as I got older? I've felt the same way for the past few years – Christmas is just something that I try to survive. It can be so stressful and I want to give people nice things… not realistic as a broke 20-something. I tried to focus more on the little things this year. How pretty the lights are, how cheerful most people are, the colors of the season, and of course, holiday baking. I found that I enjoyed Christmas a little bit more this year by not stressing so much about the material things. Just glad to know I'm not the only disenchanted one trying to change my ways. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh that's fantastic! I'm sure there are many people out there who also feel this way. It's amazing how much more we can enjoy something when we put our minds to it! Thanks for stopping by :)
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