Thanksgiving Day here in the states is just one week away.
Whether you are hosting or cooking a dish, showing up to someone's home or going out for dinner...
There is always a fair amount of stress that goes along with this event...
I believe because it marks the beginning of the holiday season.
I have made a promise to myself and my husband that I will not allow commercialism to interfere with what I am most thankful for.
LIFE.
LIVING.
FRIENDS.
FAMILY.
I will not allowPERFECTIONISM to come
between me and the calm of the gray skies and the crisp air.
~~~~
I have given my word that we will NOT over spend or over book.
With my whole heart I am making a difference in the lives of my sons by making the decision to NOT get caught up or turned on by what public relations or marketing media dictate.I will not.
I have decided.
Decision is made.
Henry would like to say a few words right now:
"An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day."
*****
"Friends... they cherish one another's hopes. They are kind to one another's dreams."
*****
"Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads."
*****
"Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each."
-Henry David Thoreau
Bless you all,
What a sweet and gentle reminder of what we are thankful for. I respect your decision to boycott commercialism. I ALWAYS do :) We will be out of town for a week, on holiday with family. Hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving with family and friends!
ReplyDeleteBrilliantly stated! We make our own experiences and a goal up front will indeed guide the way to a more relaxed season.
ReplyDeleteThat pic with the hay bales looks sooo wonderful! Is this your own place where you play music or have one like it?
Donna
I agree with you totally. We get so caught up in the "stuff" of Christmas that we forget Who the season is all about. First and foremost is Christ, Who, without Him, we would have nothing to celebrate. Next is definitely our family. They are who I live for and who I strive to teach what is important. Gifts will be thrown away, destroyed, forgotten, but love, time, life lessons will stay forever.
ReplyDeleteLove you, my sincerely sweet friend.
Well stated.
ReplyDeleteTo you ...
and Henry.
Well said my friend, well said :)
ReplyDeleteWhat?? You're not buying me a new Ipad?? Oh no.....
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I agree with you 1000%. I've told my family how shocked they're going to be this season to give them a fair amount of time to get used to the fact that we won't be showering anyone with gifts. It rips me to the core to see kids count their presents at Christams, or open them and compare how much was spent on them vs another child.
The kids in my family will definitely being having a very different kind of Christmas this year. It's time we all get back to teaching kids why there is a Christmas at all.
Good post my dear!
I need to work on the "I will not overbook." I am a pleaser so I have a hard time saying "no." When I need some perspective in the coming weeks I will refer back to this post. :)
ReplyDeleteLove what you've said here Kolein, and so true. Love your quotes, couldn't be more true:)
ReplyDeleteYour post really resonates with my spirit. I keep trying to come up with a way to *decorate* for the holidays without the stress involved with putting it all up and taking it all down. I've already determined that it will be way less in the gift department, but I want to enjoy the time with my family and not stress over the doing.
ReplyDeleteI've been scouring the net tonight trying to get inspired to do it simple with what I have--but not with all of what I have. The crazy thing is that I want it to be simple but original and creative. It may be simpler to just do what I always do.
Yes, I know I'm rambling. So sorry. Any inspiration?