The Un-Christmas

Man I used to LOVE Christmas.  The decorations, the carols, buying little gifts, all that stuff.  Loved it.
Now, not so much.  Maybe I'm just lazy and cheap but I just don't get as pumped about it as I used to.

The last two trips we have taken, we have been away for Christmas and I quite enjoy it.  Of course, I love having dinner with the family, watching xmas cartoons, baking stuff etc, but the extremity that the holiday has gone to is pretty intense once you have been away from it and realize that it's not like this in lots of other countries and you know what, I like it!  I like it a lot.
For one, if you aren't religious, which I am not, Christmas doesn't really have any significance to you at all.  Like why would I celebrate Hanukkah?  I wouldn't.
Secondly, I feel that the intensity of Christmas grows each year with kids expecting more and more from "Santa"/mom and dad and this "holiday" really becomes about how many presents you get and how good they are.  Again, I love buying a little something special for people but it's the expectation and extremity of it all.  Bah.  I feel like this post is a little Humbug for Christmas day but it's my truth right now.
I am very grateful for, look forward to and love spending time with family and friends but feel that this should be our focus.  Not so much about the external stuff.

Again, as I said in another post, maybe cause I'm getting older but I feel that this time of year, which won't get any LESS extreme could be used as a time for reflection, a time for gratitude, a time to volunteer, donate and keep that going throughout the year as opposed to giving a gift of plastic that is not needed and will likely end up in the recycle if it's lucky.
I know, I know, I can hear some of you saying but I AM grateful and I DO volunteer or donate and that's great!  Now make it more.  Spread it more, share it more, get others involved and support a holiday season with less stuff and more love. 

Wishing you love, health, happiness and a New Year full of growth!