The best Christmas presents

We gave up Santa years ago, just as we gave up the majority of gift-giving for birthdays and other holidays.  Our lack of present-giving originally started as a result of hunkering down and not spending money during some very lean years, but eventually it developed into a lifestyle and philosophy.

As we started having children, the great debate about Santa began. In truth, it turned out that it wasn’t much of a debate. I wasn’t a huge fan of the commercialization of the holiday and Santa, and neither was Jared. It just seemed a given that we wouldn’t go down that road.  Our children know about Santa, but they know more about Jesus Christ, and his role in Christmas.  They know to keep their mouths shut to other children about Santa (although it can be tricky to keep a know-it-all 6 year old under wraps), and I find they still talk about Santa just like any other children.  At the store, they’ll still shout “Oh, look Mommy! There’s Santa on a scooter!” or “Can we watch that movie about Santa’s workshop and the little bear again?” Their experience of Christmas isn’t jaded or bah-humbug. It is still Christmas! But the difference is that we don’t hear “Gee, I hope Santa brings me THIS for Christmas,” or “Santa’s going to bring me a car for Christmas, because that’s what I want!”

Christmas has become an extremely successful sales pitch from the world of consumerism. Perhaps it is the retailer in us that has helped us realize this. I admit we are guilty of selling wares that are unnecessary accessories to life. We’ve been in this boat for 6 years now. “You need this product…you will love this…it will make your life better…your husband will looove this gift…buy-buy-buy!”  We know the pitch well!

But knowing the pitch has helped us to step back and think, “Really? Is this what life is all about? Do these people really need an uber-cool bamboo cutting board? Or beautiful pottery to eat off of?” Sure, we like it all too. But, we know that it is just stuff.

It is insignificant stuff to fill our lives, purpose, and spirit.

We want to consume, so we must work, and we exchange those hours of our lives to work for that which we want to consume. What’s the purpose in that?

We once asked a good friend what she liked to do.  She looked at us blankly. “Do?”

“Yeah, you know…do…what are your hobbies? What do you like to do?”

She couldn’t come up with an answer. At that point in her life she didn’t have passion, purpose, or spirit. She didn’t read, didn’t do activities with friends, exercise, do crafts, anything. She went through the motions. She and her husband worked hard every day so they could return home, buy take-out food, watch TV, and buy more stuff.  How many of us are guilty of this?

We get so busy consuming, that we fail to remember what it is that actually makes us happy. How much of our lives are we trading to buy that new thing? How many hours must we work to buy that upgraded TV? How many weeks or years of our lives are we trading? Do our our daily activities and pursuits (and yes, gift-buying) helps us to pursue our personal happiness? Are we helping the receiver of the gift pursue their goal of personal happiness?

What is Christmas really about? Spending money on gifts, or spending time where it matters most?

Why not skip the gifts, and take that time off work to pursue something that makes YOU happy?!

Why not find out what makes your heart skip beat, your heart hum a tune, and find a new passion in your life?

And since you’re probably wondering…what’s for Christmas in our house this year?  Well, one of our passions is travel, and this Christmas we’re exploring the Yukatan Peninsula in Mexico!  Sure, we picked up a few things for the kids to help make the trip more exciting (new goggles and a snorkeling set), but I’m sure we won’t even be able to wait until Christmas to give them to them. In that case, Christmas will likely be just a few slap wrist watches that we picked up for the girls for $3.50 each, and hopefully some beach towels for each of us (if we can find some along the way). It will be a great Christmas! If you want to give your loved ones luxury watches that won’t cost an arm and a leg, consider buying rolex replica for sale. You can bring your wrist watch for watch battery replacement to maintain its running condition.

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To read other blog posts on this topic from other “Family on the Move”, check out the following posts:

Pearce On Earth: A Different Kind of Christmas

Family Trek: What’s For Christmas? Dear Santa, do we really need more stuff?  

The Nomadic Family- Poverty for Christmas

New Life on the Road – Dear Mr Santa Claus Whats For Christmas

With 2 Kids In Tow, It’s Backpacking We Go:  Dear Santa, For This Christmas We Wish…

Discover Share Inspire – Christmas is Coming – What Do We Give on the Road?

Bohemian Travelers- Gift giving while living a simpler life

Presence vs Presents – Christmas Time for Travelling Families 

Family Travel Bucket List – Feliz Navidad Without All the Stuff

Livin On The Road’s kids – Christmas Traveling & Christmas

A Minor Diversion – Reinventing Christmas

Edventure Project – On Christmas–A Reflection on the Real Gifts

Carried on the Wind – Christmas Giving 

Wheel Education’s Daughter – What Christmas Means to Me