In 2008, it snowed on Christmas. It snowed so much, people were advised to not leave their homes. I wouldn't have been able to leave my home even if I wanted to. I was trapped and alone with nothing but an empty stocking, a box of Hamburger Helper and "A Christmas Story" on DVD.
At first it was quite sad. It felt lacking. No family. No cheer. No tasty holiday treats. No presents. Nothing. It was just quiet and still. It felt like the beginnings of the worst Christmas of my life.
Ironically, it wasn't.
I can't even begin to explain it. Definitely wouldn't be able to capture the feeling in a blog. Regardless of the fact that my Christmas last year contained hardly any ingredients required for a perfect commercialized holiday... it felt more like Christmas than any other I can remember. And it was a lasting feeling too. There wasn't any of that depression lingering once the presents are opened and the meal is devoured.
Apparently being isolated on Christmas day gave me the opportunity to realize that the only things I really want and need in life can't be bought, sold, traded, borrowed, or gifted by another. The only things I truly want and need simply require hard work, determination and a little faith on my part. Everything else is just... "stuff."
So this year my plan is to enter the Christmas season a little differently than I have before. This year my gift to my family is going to be taking them out for the afternoon and letting each person in my family pull a name off a giving tree for kids that truly do need something more this holiday season. Once each of my family members chooses a gift for their child (or teen/adult/senior) of choice, I'll buy that gift as a donation in thier honor.
So my gift to my family (especially my little nieces... who have EVERYTHING) will be the joy of making someone else's life brighter. Because no one in my family, like me, needs more "stuff." It also will double as a chance for us to spend some quality time together. After all, time spent with the ones you love is better than anything that can be wrapped up in a box.
I'm also requesting that they don't buy me any gifts this year either. Instead, the money they would have used to buy my gift(s) can be used to buy more gifts for some needy kids, or to purchase a few gift certificates to grocery stores to ensure that at least a few additional families out there will have a meal to eat on Christmas.
Originally I wanted to help a racing family (or families) that may have been hit by some tough times due to the economy. (Well... technically I can still do this if someone gets me the name of a family quick!!!). But I wasn't quite sure how to go about locating such a family...... this year. But I'm seriously thinking about maybe slowly building a charity that would help racing families during the holidays in the coming year. The racing community is so fantastic. I really think some amazing things could be accomplished by the racing folks in the off season when many are starving for something to focus their attention on. I know I am. :)
So anyway... those are just some thoughts that have been running through my head at a time when the anxiety and questions over what to get this person and that person starts consuming your life. Maybe the real question is are you just buying "stuff" or are you changing the course of humanity?
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
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WOW, I hear you. Last year for my mom I donated money to her local women's shelter in her name, that way my mom also gets a charity receipt for her income taxes... But, you know what could be cool if you're talking about charity, you could take your nieces out for a shopping spree, wrap the gifts up and donate them to any of those charity gift bins.Then your nieces become aware of kids that really don't have anything and talk with them as they pick a gift, talk about needs, desires, etc. Oooh, that could be a really interesting bonding time with them.
ReplyDeleteI love hearing people talk about the excess of stuff and how we really don't need so much junk. I think it could be easier to really make the world a better place by doing the simplest things. Thanks for a good post and thanks for the thinking...
I could help you out with the charity thing too. You could also work alongside any of the benevolent funds groups (aka wives clubs) some do really good stuff!
That's exactly what I'm going to do... take my neices (and mom, dad, brother, siter-in-law, grandma) out on a shopping spree to pick out special gifts for someone who really needs it. I do something very similar with my neices for their birthday. And let me tell you... they remember the time we spent together for YEARS!! The gifts get forgotten by the end of the month. :)
ReplyDeleteTHAT WOULD BE SO COOL to work with someone or a group on developing a racing charity for the holidays/offseason! I'm skilled at coming up with ideas... I'm not so skilled at getting projects off the ground. But, I know there's people out there with talents that I don't have... so together we can conqure the world!!! I even have a super great name for the charity. The web address is even still available! :)
That would be great if you could help Marie. We'll have to start tossing around some ideas. Ooooo... and if you know of any racing families you met along the way that could really use some help this holiday... let me know! :)