Merry Happy Everything

This has to be the first year that I have zero interest in Christmas gift giving or receiving. It's not the lack of money, we never have enough money this time of the year. This year is no different in that regard and I have a lifetime of creative gift giving under my belt. I was brought up to believe it is the thought that counts when choosing a gift, not the price one pays for it. I suppose that makes me out of step with the times, but I have always been that. Why be different now?

I'm not buried in hospital or medical bills. We received financial assistance on those that amounts to 90% of what is owed. Payments are small to all parties concerned and not at all large enough to present any financial difficulty to us. Hubby, while still not released for work, is improving in leaps and bounds. Not even finding it necessary to take medications for his Crohn's Disease. I'm content with life and looking forward to the next chapter, but I simply don't care that it's Christmas.

My first thought was that I might be suffering from depression. I understand that depression interferes with ones ability to be interested in or enjoy anything. I'm not in that frame of mind, I'm interested in just about everything except giving and receiving gifts. When I really stop to think about it, I suppose it's more a matter of not being interested in the receiving part. I have what I need and can't think of anything else I want that money can buy. I also can't make people accept a gift that they don't believe they need.

I can't find anywhere a single person who says they need the gift of kindness, compassion, tolerance or respect towards others. Nor are they offering those gifts to whomever might need them to replenish their own supply so they may give more to others. It seems that giving to others that which they might wish to receive from others has been replaced with a need to own the latest expensive plaything.

There is no amount of money that can buy a gift for someone who is so full of rage that they erupt into violence. No Xbox, no Ipad, no Nook, no Smart Phone or whatever the current popular tech toy is won't make someone feel more loved if those who should be responsible for them are too busy acquiring the money to buy those things. Things can't replace the time, attention and nurturing that children need to grow into responsible, kind, compassionate adults.

I'd say stop giving the gift of greed this Christmas but no one listens to me, so have a merry whatever day you'd like. As for me, I've gone someplace other than the internet looking for my Christmas spirit. I'm sure it's in my heart somewhere.