Christmas and the lack of spirit.

[cassanova]

Is anyone else not in the "Christmas spirit" this year? I'm so not into this year that I haven't even put up a tree or decorated the outside of the house with lights like I normally do.

The whole lack of a full time job and minimal money to buy family presents is whats killing it for me.

[hover]

then you are definitely missing the true spirit. Your friends and family will understand, and would rather you be among them and happy rather than pulling your hair out to placate them with a trinket just because.

Chin up man, there's been a few of these threads lately, one (kinda) from myself, it's time to reconnect and reinvest in your relationships with those around you. It will pass, and soon be a mere stumble in your life. Don't let it get you down.

[Joe Gress]

I'm happy as hell that I get to go skiing for Christmas this year. My girlfriend is also joining my family and I for the ski trip and Christmas. I can't afford presents for anyone this year, I need a second job bad, and I still don't have a replacement for my car that got hit by a drunk in September. But I'm still looking forward to seeing all my brothers (three of us are in college now), going skiing (which besides playing bass and sex, is my favorite thing to do), and spending time with the girlfriend. Getting to see the Asbestos Tampons on the 26th, and the Insecurities at the pub on new years eve. Its gonna be a great christmas.

[NateS]

My first one as an adult, we aren't doing jack. Put up a little glow city in the living room, that matches perfectly with the glow of the computer monitor. And that's...that.

[Mike N]

Christmas is commercial greed at it's finest. We shouldn't need a Hallmark Holiday to hang out with family.

If it wasn't for my 12 year old daughter we wouldn't put up a tree or go through the motions of the holiday.

[hrodbert696]

See what happens if you let Christmas be a HoliDAY instead of a HoliMONTH. These days all the hype gets rolling as early as Halloween and no wonder no one has the stomach for it by the time we're past Thanksgiving. Why suddenly write a buttload of cards to everyone you used to know if you haven't bothered keeping in touch with them the rest of the year? Why saturate your home in blinking lights for a month? Why bankrupt yourself buying expensive gifts for everyone like you're Daddy Morebucks or whatever his name was?

Decorate Christmas Eve - including putting up the tree. Presents go under the tree just overnight, and just some little thoughtful thing for each person. Christmas Day, sing songs and play games and eat a nice ham and open your modest presents and just enjoy yourself with people you love. I don't see that there needs to be any more to it than that.

[cassanova]

Originally Posted by Joe Gress

But I'm still looking forward to seeing all my brothers (three of us are in college now), going skiing (which besides playing bass and sex, is my favorite thing to do), and spending time with the girlfriend. Getting to see the Asbestos Tampons on the 26th, and the Insecurities at the pub on new years eve. Its gonna be a great christmas.

I won't get to see my brothers this Christmas. One lives out of state now and the other has been living overseas for quite a few years.

I fear my parents health is failing. Though I don't particularly like my dad, he's still my dad, and he's been having all sorts of issues as of late. Constant fatigue, dizzy spells, having more "spells" where he goes into seizures, (fortunately, none were grand mal) etc etc. He's mimicking all the things that happened to my grandfather before he died.

My mom lost all her sight in one of her eyes yesterday, fortunately, it returned. She fears she's been having small or mini strokes on a recurring basis. Neither of them will go to a damn doctor. Both parents are in their mid 60's, which also around the age all my grandparents died too.

It's gonna be a great Christmas for you, and that's cool. On my end, things are much different.

[Sundogue]

If you think Christmas is about blinking lights, decorating trees, Santa Claus, presents and getting drunk with friends and relatives, no wonder you have no spirit left for it.

It is about the birth of the Christ child. The Savior. Peace on earth and good will toward men. Genuine Peace and Love towards our fellow man.

Give something meaningful to strangers in need. Carry some packages for someone struggling with them. Shovel someone's driveway or sidewalk. Buy a homeless person a meal or even a night in some shelter. Lend a hand to others in need. Smile and say hello to everyone you pass on the street.

Give of yourself to everyone...which costs nothing but your love.

I'm not a Christian and even I know what the true meaning of Christmas is. Love. God is Love. Christ was Love.

If you can't see that (surprise, surprise) go drown your sorrows in a pint of spiked egg-nog with the other poor bastards who think it's all about tinsel, gift buying and hanging out with friends and relatives once a year. Some people are actually suffering in this world and no one gives a damn about them.

Merry Christmas.

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Don't be hard on yourself, man. Christmas isn't about a tree or decorations or presents or money.

Sundogue said it well.

[Phalex]

Originally Posted by Bob Lee (QSC)

Don't be hard on yourself, man. Christmas isn't about a tree or decorations or presents or money.

Sundogue said it well.

So....... I shouldn't be waiting for the ups guy to deliver that shiny new amp then???

[Dr_Funkdamental]

I am. I would have stuff up, but I just moved to Ft Bragg and everything is in boxes lol. I love this time, esp. since Im finally close enough to home to enjoy the whole time. Pretty much my whole family is in one city so we get together and hang out. We also grab some pizzas and hot chocolate and have a spades party at my grandmas (who stomps us all the time) a few nights before Christmas.

Also giving isnt all about money and commercialism. Per my Christian faith, God gave Jesus to the world to help, heal, and save. Skip past the mall and go fix someone's car or take them something you cooked. Heck, help someone with a resume' or give a free lesson or something. All these musicians here, grab your guitard and go to a hospital and take Christmas requests. Its about giving, not necessarily spending.

[fenderhutz]

I have a 2.5 and almost 5 year old. Being laid off for a while this year kinda made it rough for a while. But they don't understand (or need to) those adult things that kept me awake at night.

Our tree is up, the decorations are out. It was free because it's stuff we had in the basement.

We have been doing a ton of baking and crafts this holiday season and found the less money we throw into Christmas the more fun we are having as a family.

[DRafalske]

I'm in quite the "bah-humbug" mood this year myself.
I never put up a tree because my doggies will devour it.
I've been too busy, and lazy, to bother with putting up lights.
All the hype is getting on my nerves more than usual this year.
Don't get me started on the traffic and general craziness - Even going to the local grocery store is a trip I prefer not to make until well after the new year. I won't go near the mall.

Hopefully, the family gathering at grandma's on the 24th will remind me what it's all about. It always does.

[Sundogue]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

I have a 2.5 and almost 5 year old. Being laid off for a while this year kinda made it rough for a while. But they don't understand (or need to) those adult things that kept me awake at night.

Our tree is up, the decorations are out. It was free because it's stuff we had in the basement.

We have been doing a ton of baking and crafts this holiday season and found the less money we throw into Christmas the more fun we are having as a family.

How true that is. We put up a tree, but we went out as a family and found the tree together, rode out on a horse drawn sleigh and drank hot chocolate, together. We picked out the tree, together. We cut it down, together, we dragged it out, together.

We went back to the "office" of the tree farm and had more hot chocolate and snacks when we paid for the tree, together. We drove home singing Christmas carols, together. We put on some hot cider, some great Christmas music and put up our tree and all the decorations, together.

There still aren't any gifts under the tree, and there won't be until Christmas eve when there will only be a few meager tokens of our love for our youngest children. Christmas eve we'll all have dinner, together and talk about the meaning of Christmas, together. Christmas morning the kids will wake us up to witness the wonder of a child's fascination, imagination and sincerest anticipation of what may lie under the wrappings. Hugs and kisses and laughter will ensue and we will all have a wonderful memory to hold on to. Then we will all go around and say what we are grateful for and pray for those less fortunate than us.

After lunch we'll go down to the shelter and help those who don't have what we have, together as a family. My daughters will hand out toys they no longer play with, but cleaned up and wrapped for the poor children whose family's can't get their own gifts.

We do these things...together. And most all the things we do cost almost nothing more than our time and lots of love. Funny thing about Love...the more you give it away the more you have.

For those who don't have much this year I wish you all the most blessed Peace and Love in the upcoming year in hopes that you too can give away as much as you can to those who are less fortunate than you. To all who are in service in the military, I pray you can come home to your loved ones as soon as possible. There is nothing more important than Love and family.

Merry Christmas! The most important gift you can ever give, you already have to give. Give it, freely and often!

[6jase5]

Last night I went to a Christmas event at a local winery. My 4 month old daughter sat on Santa and Mrs. Claus' lap and she was in blissful smiling heaven. Everything else in the world really didn't matter to me at that point, good or bad, as it was just a moment that we'll never forget...

Of course 5 minutes later she crapped out and breached the Huggies blow-out preventer thus ruining her first xmas outfit, but that was besides the point.

[Sundogue]

Originally Posted by 6jase5

Last night I went to a Christmas event at a local winery. My 4 month old daughter sat on Santa and Mrs. Claus' lap and she was in blissful smiling heaven. Everything else in the world really didn't matter to me at that point, good or bad, as it was just a moment that we'll never forget...

Of course 5 minutes later she crapped out and breached the Huggies blow-out preventer thus ruining her first xmas outfit, but that was besides the point.

^ Priceless!

Ah, the memories.

[hover]

Originally Posted by 6jase5

Last night I went to a Christmas event at a local winery. 5 minutes later she crapped out and breached the Huggies blow-out preventer thus ruining her first xmas outfit, but that was besides the point.

Yeah, wine makes me crap my pants too.

[Skitch it!]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

The less money we throw into Christmas the more fun we are having as a family.

+1 Xmas needs the spirit back.

[FilterFunk]

Originally Posted by Sundogue

How true that is. We put up a tree, but we went out as a family and found the tree together, rode out on a horse drawn sleigh and drank hot chocolate, together. We picked out the tree, together. We cut it down, together, we dragged it out, together.

We went back to the "office" of the tree farm and had more hot chocolate and snacks when we paid for the tree, together. We drove home singing Christmas carols, together. We put on some hot cider, some great Christmas music and put up our tree and all the decorations, together.

There still aren't any gifts under the tree, and there won't be until Christmas eve when there will only be a few meager tokens of our love for our youngest children. Christmas eve we'll all have dinner, together and talk about the meaning of Christmas, together. Christmas morning the kids will wake us up to witness the wonder of a child's fascination, imagination and sincerest anticipation of what may lie under the wrappings. Hugs and kisses and laughter will ensue and we will all have a wonderful memory to hold on to. Then we will all go around and say what we are grateful for and pray for those less fortunate than us.

After lunch we'll go down to the shelter and help those who don't have what we have, together as a family. My daughters will hand out toys they no longer play with, but cleaned up and wrapped for the poor children whose family's can't get their own gifts.

We do these things...together. And most all the things we do cost almost nothing more than our time and lots of love. Funny thing about Love...the more you give it away the more you have.

For those who don't have much this year I wish you all the most blessed Peace and Love in the upcoming year in hopes that you too can give away as much as you can to those who are less fortunate than you. To all who are in service in the military, I pray you can come home to your loved ones as soon as possible. There is nothing more important than Love and family.

Merry Christmas! The most important gift you can ever give, you already have to give. Give it, freely and often!

THIS is what I'm talkin' 'bout! Personally, I focus on what's important and enjoyable to me - the real reason for the season (you know what I mean; don't make me get all religious on you!), family, friends, and music. I love music in general, but I love Christmas music in particular. I have so much Christmas music that I don't even get to it all during the season; everything from the Boston Pops to Bootsy. Also, check out the classic animated specials "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas." They pretty much sum it up.

[baalroo]

I'm barely scraping by this year (monetarily speaking) but I'm still feeling pretty christmas-y, in my own secular and non-materialistic sort of way. I don't give gifts and I discourage othersfrom giving me gifts (friends and family are well aware of my non-consumerism stance on Christmas... I've held this stance for many years). My Christmas is a few days of dinners, drinks, and general merriment with close friends and family and I wouldn't have it any other way. The holiday was originally intended as a reminder of the warmth and happiness around you during the hardest and darkest part of the year, don't allow the things that you dislike about Christmas to dominate the season. It's your duty to yourself to create your own rituals that enrich your life. There's no real reason not to simply pick and choose what to embrace and which parts to discard to maximize your own enjoyment of the holiday.