the joy of giving / why I love Christmas! / wishing people joy
I LOVE giving gifts! But I'm very particular about how I do it, and if I can't find the right gift I'd rather give nothing at all (and when I do give, my gifts are often late because I didn't find the gift in time, or couldn't afford it in time). To me, the perfect gift is something that the person would enjoy (of course), that represents an intersection of our interests -- especially something that we both like that is unusual. If we have little in common, I'll get something that represents a passion of theirs, or something that represents their personality to me. So if I don't know a person very well, or they have very particular taste, then I usually won't be able to get them anything. Sometimes I'll be brave and make a guess though.And I love giving Christmas presents! I LOVE Christmas, not because of the ties to Christianity (though I like those too) but because it is the time of year when SO MANY people make extra effort to be kind to one another. People smile a little more and are more generous. They not only buy gifts for those they know and love, but they donate to make sure that less fortunate people will get a taste of the magic, and they give small acts of kindness to strangers. A few days ago, there was a two-hour chain of Starbucks customers who paid for the coffee of the person behind them in line! That sort of generosity thrills me! And people all over the place (in the US anyway) put up beautiful sparkly lights to decorate their houses and give joy to passers-by. Every time I see a house all lit up with colorful lights, I feel like I am living in a truly magical world, a world of joyful people who want to celebrate love and share with others. That's my favorite part, really -- the feeling that everyone I meet is connected by this celebration of giving. That's what Christmas means to me -- joy through giving.
I have most of my Christmas presents purchased now (yay me! some of them might actually arrive on time!), but there are a few VERY IMPORTANT people whom I just CANNOT figure out what to get! If you have a wishlist online anywhere, please make sure I have it. If it isn't listed there, drop me a link please! If you DON'T have a wishlist, please tell me what genres of things you like. Don't worry, I'm not going to feel obligated to get what you list, whether wishlist or genre-list. I never feel obligated; that's the great thing about preferring bluntness to politeness :D Here's my list, so you can see what I mean:
I love:
anything glass!
tiny vessels (bottles, mini vases, boxes)
ancient Egyptian stuff
fantasy / sci-fi / feminist / spiritual / historical-fiction [books]
snow leopards / dragonflies / fae / unicorns [art, jewelry, or figurines]
& other stuff, but you get the idea.
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On a related note, I really don't understand why people get all het up over others wishing them a happy holiday-they-don't-celebrate. If I celebrate something, then my happy wishes are going to be connected to that! I would be happy if someone wished me Happy Hanukkah or Cheerful Kwanzaa or Joyful Ramadan, even though I don't celebrate them. The point is, that person is sharing their joy with me, and I welcome it -- what does it matter what label it wears? joy is joy!
My Amazon lists are here (http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/2IMKJQGZ4RZLE) ... that's a link to the main list but I also have several other themed lists listed there on the left.Nevermind, I see you already have it. :)
♥
Even if you're not decorating, I'm sure you're sharing love and that's the important thing ♥
That makes me happy.
I'm the only person I know up to now who ever used it.
*language dork*
I always really liked Halloween as a kid because of the dressing up and the fun parties at school and the autumnal colors etc (I didn't do the whole trick or treat thing, it isn't so common in Belgium) My mum always disliked Halloween because she thinks it is un-catholic to celebrate it. As I've experienced it in Belgium Halloween is an excuse to dress up and be playful and child-like and has a magical feel to me. The way I've defined it to myself, it does make me look at my life and feel gratefyl and any time that focuses on looking on your life and being grateful is good.. Like you said, joy is joy.
Like you, I adore the way people light up their houses and their roads with glittering shimmering lights and sing at Christmas. I think we should have more times of the year when we give celebrate our lives with color like that! I adore Christmas lights. I've met so many people who feel jaded about Christmas and while I can understand feeling tired of the commercialization of it because I dislike that aspect too too, I've never related to not being able to enjoy it. I love it. I actually feel incredibly energized around Christmas.. I feel much more self-loving, beautiful etc.. and I think it's because I'm soaking up the love and colour and light and giving around me. It's like an amazing boost!
Happy Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Ramadan ♥
I never understand why people get upset about the 'commercialization' of it! that's part of the joy for me! When all the stores decorate too, play Christmas music, and sell special stuff, it makes me feel more like the whole community is doing it. I love it! I don't care why they do it, I just like that it's a big happy thing that (most) everyone does.
I am glad that it gives you energy and love, it does to me too, for the same reasons ♥ *sends love*
To clarify, it's not the fact all the shops are participating that bothers me.. it's just the large corporations that often aren't necessarily putting the stuff out out of a love of Christmas but rather to make money? I guess what I mean by commercialization is that there is this sense that there is a drive to buy? I *love* present giving and I am all for people buying presents ♥ but I think that the 'buzz' around Christmas creates stress and worry for those who can't afford? And so.. often, people who are not well off (already in a lot of debt etc..) spend more than they are able to. Buying presents is a lovely tradition but it is possible to give without spending and I don't think anyone should spend because they feel expected to, especially if they can't afford it. I guess I enjoy the commercialization of it in so far as it means that the glittery-ness is even more widespread than it would otherwise be! I only dislike it when it is not a genuine love of christmas that fuels the change in the shops but greed. If Christmas is used as an excuse create a buzz so that people 'binge-spend' then I think that is a twisting of Christmas. But I really really love it when you get a sense that the people in the shop are celebratory and seem like they are doing it in a community-spirit. That is very beautiful.
<3
Carnival sounds like that kind of holiday, have you ever celebrated that? Dressing up is so much fun.
This is why I like the holidays too. It's an excuse for everyone to be NICE. I have friends who say that it's no good because people should be nice all the time... but they're not. Therefore, any holiday that reminds people that they SHOULD be nice and considerate of others is fine by me.
I love the "joy is joy." Very, very true. :)
Slogans like "joy through giving" always sound better in German to me.
and ew, German :-p I don't like that language at all.
I'm also not offended by people saying "happy holidays" or anything like that. It's that season of the year and people are happy, so why not share it? I also think it's just common curtesy to say "happy holidays" or something, at least it seems to be around here.
I have a wishlist.
www.thethingsiwant.com/kim5814
I never feel obligated; that's the great thing about preferring bluntness to politeness :D Here's my list, so you can see what I mean
That's good, I hate when people make gifts out to be obligations, It's not really a gift if the other person makes you feel you have to give it! Now mind i'd be offended if someone close to me didn't acknowledge a gift giving occasion such as a birthday by say calling or emailing or just saying happy birthday but I never feel I'm owed a gift those I almost always like gifts! My Mother in law was telling me how her family was aghast that she wasn't buying lots of things for the baby. i asked her what for she won't remember it and she doesn't really need anything but it's that sense of obligation again. I also don't like it when people think a gift has to be new. That's a trickier issue with a lot of people but i think that if i have something I know you'd really like and It's in very good condition I don't see why I shouldn't give it as a gift.
man, everybody but me is moving right now, it seems. I'm so envious!