All I want for Xmas is...
It's seems that as we get older, the faster the year goes. I remember very well when Christmas used to come around very slowly and the last weeks lead-up to Santa arriving was the slowest week of all.
Christmas means many things to many people. Some people don't celebrate for religious or personal reasons. Others, like myself, see it as a time to celebrate and as such, we put up our Christmas Trees, lights and spend endless hours shopping for the perfect gift for loved ones.
As I am away this year, the gifts have been flowing in. Some have been tremendously thoughtful, carefully gift wrapped with beautiful ribbon and celebratory paper. I cherish these gifts more than anything. There are no hard and fast rules on gift giving, but for family and those closest, I love that the gifts they give are more personal and special. My favourite gift of all time was a photograph taken of my dog Pip with a Santa hat on. I looked at it for hours thinking about how beautiful she is and what joy she brings to my life. Even now, I still bring it out just to gaze at how expressive her eyes are and how cute she looks. For those who don't know me so well, they tend to give experiences like facials or balloon rides, which is great but are quite impersonal. I have to say I would prefer that they give the money to a charity for children that are less privileged then buy these types of gifts that I could buy myself and that don't show the real value of Christmas.
Which lends me to charity. I know we all know that we should be charitable and most of us have every intention to do so, but how many of us really take action. Charities like Ozchild help children that may be dumped or taken off their parents over Christmas for various reasons. These children would do anything for a simple teddy bear or toy from Santa, but sadly, many of these children miss out.
This year, all I want for Xmas is....
1. To be happy. To spend the day smiling with people that I care about.
2. To 'smell the roses' and appreciate all the great things that come into my life and how lucky I am to be given so many opportunities to live life to the fullest.
3. Books and more books
4. ipad cover... I need to buy one and I keep putting it off
5. Memories that will last a lifetime - quite ambiguous... I know... but I want to do, see and have something so memorable that I look back on Christmas with fond memories.
6. No silly gifts - if someone is going to buy me something that is useless, think again. Give the money to a charity and I will get 10 times more pleasure out of it then any gift that I will look at, laugh and put in the bottom of the drawer.
7. Champagne - need I say more!
8. That my beautiful family have a wonderful day in Queensland
9. That my dog doesn't open her presents too fast and doesn't feel too sad that I am not there
10. Snow!
What do you want for Xmas?
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comments ( 6 )
Veronique
28 Nov 2012Admiring the time and effort you put into your site and in depth information you present.
ReplyIt's great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn't the same old rehashed information.
Wonderful read! I've bookmarked your site and I'm including your RSS feeds to my Google account.
Brendan Moran
10 Jan 2012This year was the best Christmas ever for me, I thought nothing would beat that year I got a bike and a playstation2.
ReplyAlthough Christmas was hard being away from a large part of my family for the first time, I had an amazing day with some of my very large family over here and my lovely girlfriend. I didn't want any gifts, just an amazing day and a gigantic traditional dinner. What made the day even better was skyping my mum and the rest of my siblings in the evening, when we were all suitably merry, knowing that they were all happy having an amazing Christmas morning.
Ren
09 Jan 2012I agree with you Melissa, it's interesting how as the years go on, we tend to appreciate the less materialistic items in life and long for those intangible moments that money just can't buy.
ReplyI can completely relate to you and your associations with Pip. I feel exactly the same way about my pets, they bring me eventful joy, love and affection that humans can't always offer.
Last Christmas I wanted nothing more than to watch my loved ones bask in their happiness whilst opening their Christmas gifts. This year I found that Christmas was all about giving, sharing and absorbing every second of positive memories. It was a time of reflection, and a time to think of how fortunate I am to be able to share these priceless memories with family and friends. I think next Christmas I will be more involved in giving to Charities and certainly devoting more time to basking in those 'priceless moments', just like those moments with Pip and yourself.....
Anna Paroissien
23 Dec 2011I couldn’t agree more. With rampant consumerism, Christmas can quickly be reduced to XMess. In a bid to counter such gluttony, I’ll be helping to fund a small business in Sri Lanka. Admittedly, this may sound strange, however, Oxfam Unwrapped provides a plethora of practical gifts that are touching and transformational to those less fortunate. I feel this encapsulates the true meaning of Christmas.
ReplyClaire
19 Dec 2011Very true, Christmas has changed over the years but it remains a very special time. A time of traditions and special moments with family and close friends. Around Christmas I often find myself thinking about the year gone by and considering how I can do things better over the coming year, thinking of the people I should spend more time with that add value to my life or considering how I can benefit others more. Doing something extra like donating blood, doing volunteer work in my community or donating to a recognised charity are certainly on my list for 2012.
ReplyPaula
19 Dec 2011This time of year always has me reflecting on how lucky and thankful I am to live the life that I do. Christmas is all about appreciation and giving, making it the perfect time to think about others and do your bit for those less fortunate. This is why, this year, instead of sending presents to my family overseas we have decided to make donations to charities instead. Making our money go somewhere worthy.
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