As the holidays approach I find myself thinking of the
problem of stuff. In the past I accumulated a lot of stuff in the holidays that I never needed nor truthfully wanted. They were things that
did not make me happy.
I also gave a lot of things to people that they didn’t
really need. All this gift giving probably made them worry that they had to give
me something equally nice in return. In hindsight, my giving useless gifts
probably took more away from the holidays than actually made them brighter and
cheerier.
I’ve been reading of all the social problems that comes
with most stuff; how the workers who make them aren’t paid enough, how these
real toy makers work with dangerous materials, and often in overtime, so that
they don’t have time to spend with their families.
Upon reflection, this stuff collecting goes against
my environmentalist and socially responsible self and that is not me at all.
This holiday season and in my everyday, I have been trying to
minimize my stuff. In my stuff reflections, I’ve realized that even though I
loved getting gifts in the past, the things I remembered the most were not even
the gifts at all.
What I remember the most is my grandpa reading The Night
Before Christmas to me on Christmas Eve night, making cookies with my grandma, and playing with my brother in the snow. People and
experiences are what I remember the most and that’s true for most
everyday as well.
This year, I am making a pact with myself to be less stuff
oriented and use that space for adventures and people. I have already cleared out
my room and it is amazing how much calmer one can feel in a useless stuff free
space.
I do not think I will ever be completely stuff-less. I
don’t think all gifts are bad, but I do think that I can live with less stuff.
And because I like lists here is a list of my favorite five
non-stuff gifts to give:
1.
An artistically and uniquely designed coupon for
a tea date at a café
2.
A Homemade meal (plant-based of course J)
3.
A trip to a city, park, ice skating rink, or all
three
4.
Membership to a fitness place or yoga studio
5.
Movie or theatre tickets
