When I was a kid I used to love Christmas and would get excited leading up to it; there's was weeks and weeks off school with awesome summer weather to enjoy and the entire time seemed really special. Of course, mum and dad would buy a present or two for us and we really looked forward to that. My parents didn't have a lot of money so it was a fairly low-key part of the season and that was ok, we all made up for that by enjoying the holiday season and spending time together. Overall though, I looked forward to it as there were so many possibilities.
Now, I'm not into Christmas at all.
I have no belief in the alleged religious reasons for Christmas and having no children means I don't have to make it a special time for them. I still get time off though, from work not school, and I love that aspect but I certainly don't feel any excitement at the prospect of Christmas. I know I'm not the only one who feels that way and was chatting with some other folks who agreed; it has become a massive commercial venture and seems more about spending money than spending time with family and friends for the simple joy if it; that's quite sad I think.
I have a Christmas tree inside my home each year and this year it's an Areca Palm (don't judge) because I couldn't be bothered putting up my artificial Christmas tree. It has coloured lights and decorations on it and my nephew @mrbonkers made some decorations and sent them down so they're hanging on it along with some tinsel also. I also have a Christmas wreath on my front door, mainly so I don't look like the fucken Christmas Grinch of the neighbourhood, and there's some other decorations scattered around the house. There's no presents though, nor will there be; I buy enough through the year and my partner and I are not into it, we don't need anything right now. Having said that, we're really looking forward to the time off together, we need that, and I've planned some legit meals, BBQ's and we're also going out a bit to catch up with a few friends. We'll read, watch shows, do a few days trips, play some games and spend time in the garden. It'll be a nice time I think.
With 2025 on the horizon we're more focused on the year ahead as we feel it may be a good one, that's the plan anyway, and are actively setting goals, planning to reach them, and putting things into place to have the best year possible...this time off work period is a great time to do that and that's filling me with an excitement of sorts because for various reasons 2025 is a pivotal year for us.
I remember my childhood with mixed feelings but this time of year was always a special time as I mentioned; I had that same feeling as now, of excitement, and had a forward focus much as I do now. It was a little less structured and, of course, based around a child's mind but it's nice to feel similar things now as an adult and it makes this time a special time all these years later.
This year, my gift to myself and partner is that we get to move forward into the new year together and with common goals and plans towards what is going to be a really nice future; I think that's a splendid gift.
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
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Hi Galen, I've been a Grinch of the neighborhood for years now. This is a time when I am very aware of the people I am missing, so no tree, no decorations, no Christmas dinner.... I already gave my mother her Christmas present about 10 days ago, and she thanked me for it. I have other gifts ready that I will give before or after Christmas. I still like to give some detail to the people who love me.
Although I became the
Grinch of the neighborhood, I wish you happy holidays resting and enjoying time with your partner and family and a very good year 2025. May all your goals be fulfilled.
It's always appropriate to wish people well and this time of year, moving into a new one, is built for it. I don't hate Christmas, it just doesn't have any real meaning to me other than good and time off.
Fortunately, there can be more than one Grinch, so we can share the title. Lol.
🤣 Around here the day is just starting and I'm already laughing. It promises to be a good Sunday.
It's almost dinner time here, it's been a super hot day, 40°C+, so no cooking...just cold cuts, ham and turkey, and salad. Been a good day though, relaxing. Hopefully you have a good day.
Thank you very much, here we are in winter ☃️. See you soon, have a great week.
You can probably guess I don't do Christmas. No tree, no decorations, no xmas meal and no presents. That's a grinch for you!
Seems there's more Grinch's out there than I thought. I see an opportunity to create a club.
Your gift to yourself and your partner is the very best gift of all. It is a gift that will keep on giving as long as you want it to. With a bit of care and attention it will grow in value and never be obsolete.
I have always loved Christmas but these days, it is a much more muted affair. Even if I lived alone, I would still feel the essence of Christmas.
Christmas means lots of different things to people and I don't want to diminish someone else's thoughts on it...but, it's so commercialised now, less about the more traditional aspects and more about buying stuff and I think that's thanks to the corporations who want to drive revenue and keep people buying. Fair enough I suppose, I just don't buy in.
I don't know how to tell you this, but that Christmas thing will get worse. When you get to be retired you don't even get the bonus of time off. Takes the very last of the shine off of that turd, as it were.
I used to soak up the Christmas spirit and enjoy it. Smiling at random strangers, holding doors open, generally being nice. Now I wonder why it's saved for two weeks per year...
Yep, that's a good point, one I'd not thought of. It's really a non-event for me already but there's always room for it to become even less if a thing.
Thaaazzz Right...
Bahh Humbug!!
Haha, couple Grinch's there for sure.
Christmas for me has always been a holiday celebrated for children. For us adults, it is a time of gatherings and feasting. There is no magic that we saw as children.
The other day I was watching a Christmas cartoon and we commented: "Christmas is a holiday that multiplies emotions".
If someone is lonely and sad, that day they feel even lonelier. And if they are happy and loved (surrounded by their family members), then they are even happier that day...
That's a good point about "emotion multiplying", and I agree completely.
I get what you mean. This year, I will be going through Christmas largely on my own because everyone is either travelling or too busy to catch up, but that's fine with me. Will go out for a walk, have a good meal, and get some exercise. Looking forward to see how it will turn out for me.
That sounds like a decent plan and the best use of the day considering your friends will be away.
That gift is the best gift you can have, yes it is.
I have decorated my home, my mother likes it, the tree, the balcony with lights... a few things... table centrepieces and the ornament on the door. But the other day on a walk I saw in the main square a grinch and I said... how cool... in contrast there was a Father Christmas hugging children... and the grinch alone... and I thought again it's great!Me estare volviendo grinch?
With the time a lot of things have been lost... Christmas is a commerce, to buy and to buy, it is... There will be no presents in my house either, but good food, homemade, that we like, enjoy with the family, watch series or movies and enjoy. As you mention, look forward to next year with lots of energy!
Sharing food with people we value and spending time to connect us what it's all about.
Sorry, my replies are not as long as yours, I just don't have the time you have available to write lengthy replies. Sorry.
Don't worry, I just wanted to share that experience I had. Good night to you, have a good rest and have a good start of the week.
I also believe that focusing on the future is a good thing. Sure future is uncertain but this also gives a possibility that the future will be great.
That's right, looking ahead to the future means we have the chance in the present to shape it the way we'd like it to be.
!SLOTH
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