Welcome to the very first annual Blogmas on Glitz and Glitter! As I am typing, it is December 1st very early in the morning and I’m trying to ignore my allergies which are keeping me awake. But it is officially the first of December and honestly, I didn’t even know what day it was until a moment or two ago when I was on Twitter and saw a bunch of posts about it.  So I looked at my calendar and was instantly hit with worry and slight dread that I hadn’t purchased any gifts yet, sent out cards (even though we have just started the Merry Month), and a feeling of inadequacy.  

This year, like most other years, I am on a budget for shopping.  I won’t be able to purchase everything I want for my family and friends and I do feel slight shame for that.  But then I took a step back and realized that I had forgot the meaning of Christmas altogether.  Did the 3 wise men try to out-do each other by trying to give the best give to Jesus? No, they didn’t.  The entire being of Christmas isn’t to see if Aunt Ida can out-gift Aunt Lilian or to see which person can win over the family with presents.  With this holiday should come love, joy, a sense of renewal, and all of the hope that comes in a new year.  This time should be spent in the company of those you cherish and love.  In the end, who truly cares if they received a physical gift at all? Growing up, I have been taught that people value more than objects, that good company is a gift.  Just because I am unable to purchase something for my sister or mother that I know they would love, doesn’t make me inadequate or a bad person.  And if you are in the same boat, you aren’t a bad person either.  Christmas has become a competition of flashy gifts and bedazzled things.  Would it be so horrible to receive an orange in a Christmas stocking? I quite like oranges.  

Maybe it is just me, but I have found Christmas to be turned commercial.  I hardly see ads anymore about the true joy of Christmas. It is always about someone buying something for someone at such a great deal or buying your child a fancy toy that they will grow out of next year.  Maybe I feel this way because of the way I was raised and the values that I have.  I miss the broth commercial where the turkey and veggies went running down the grocery aisle.  It gets me every time! The Hershey’s commercial where the kisses are ringing? Fabulous! I love that commercial every year.  Ads that treat Christmas like a buying extravaganza and an opportunity for big brands to make bank “in the spirit of Christmas”? I’ll take a pass on that.  

I suppose this might not be the merriest way to start Blogmas, but I want this to be seen as a reflection for when you are in the middle of a crowd of people in a store and trying to figure out which shade someone would prefer for something or another.  Giving is great but don’t get caught up in buying and go into holiday debt.  There is so much more to Christmas than placing a wrapped box under a tree.  Your family and friends love you and they shouldn’t care what you get them.  Your company and ability to share the joy of the season is what matters to them.  So take a deep breath and turn on your favorite Christmas tunes.  We will survive this Christmas.   

This Christmas, spend time with your loved ones and embrace all of the snow flakes that kiss your cheeks, the first inhale of hot cocoa steam, and the best holiday movies.  

I promise there will be happier and brighter Blogmas posts coming up very soon! This post is a product of my late night self and probably allergy medication. 

Merry Christmas, everyone. Cheers! 

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. – Luke 2:10