Some Thoughts On Shopping For The Holidays

That relaxing day-you know it as  Thanksgiving- football, parades, turkey and stuffing, and spending time with  family and friends and being Thankful for all that we have, and for everything that is good with the world – well, it’s all over!  So……….. it is kind of funny and of course it is most ironic- ridiculous really -but it’s true that the very next day, after Thanksgiving, we forget about all of the grateful, mindful, thankful, humble sentiments- and we become the ultimate consumers, fighting with each other for a parking space, for the best bargains, for the right sizes.  This I call …………………….

 

Sooooooooooooooooooooo………………………………………….

Today is the start of the holiday shopping season.  It is called Black Friday and it is the biggest shopping day of the year! The sales in the stores are amazing-  they are too good to miss! Then  Cyber Monday is when the best shopping deals are offered online – and usually free shipping too!  Which day is your favorite to start your shopping?

Which day do you  choose to begin the difficult task of buying the right present for everyone, and get as much shopping out of the way so you can enjoy wrapping all those gifts?  Personally, I never shop on Black Friday because the crowded parking lots and overpopulated stores – it is just too stressful for me!

 I prefer Cyber Monday shopping, when I can sit home and shop online, in my pj’s with a cup of coffee.  I can relax and  avoid the crowds and hunting for a place to park.  And if I were so lucky  (I think I found one!) three other cars think they found that exact same space too.  Then there is a war in the parking lot!  It happens all the time!

 

It’s better to go back to sleep, recover from all the Thanksgiving Food, and wait til Cyber Monday!

Usually I start in July.  It is becoming popular to spend July thinking about Christmas.  In fact, it is referred to as “Christmas in July” where many products and special deals are made for holiday shopping.

This year I had the wedding to plan, and then I hurt my foot and couldn’t do anything for six weeks.  So I am in deep deep sh%#&t now and I am getting nervous that there isn’t much time left.

I get so excited when I find something great to give as a gift!  It is hard work to find the perfect gift for everyone on my list.  And, my list is very, very long!

This is definitely me.  I always end up getting two, one  for myself and one for the person I am gifting, when I love the gift I am giving.  It’s an addiction!  I wonder if there is a rehab for overdoing the gift thing. But this is one of the things I love about this season.I love to give gifts, it just makes me really happy to see the gift all wrapped and tagged, and I love watching the person I am gifting open the gift, and enjoy the fact that I thought , really made an effort to think about what would be perfect for each person.  There is an art to giving a gift!  There is also an art in receiving a gift.  Many people do not receive gifts well.  They just don’t appreciate the act of giving to someone!  It doesn’t have to be expensive.  It could be something you made, the point is, people should appreciate that the person giving you the gift went to a lot of work (even fighting for a parking spot!) and thought ( with a lot of stress over making the right decision in choosing the gift) and love (for wanting to give you – the receiver-something special) And muddling through all the problems that are associated with shopping!

The problem is -shopping can cause a lot of stress.  We’ve all experienced the frustration at some point in our lives.

Sometimes we all feel like saying:

And when we drag our significant others, or our husbands, it can be a real nightmare for us!

I stopped taking my husband holiday shopping with me years ago!  He hated every minute of it!  He was annoying, and argumentative.  I learned the hard way that the only way to shop is to go by myself. so what! if the packages are too heavy to carry.  I’d rather carry them myself and get a backache than deal with my grumpy, whining scrooge ( husband)!  I let him think that all the presents were brought by Santa Claus.

For me, I think that :

In some respects it does!  So Here I go!!!!

 

Eventually I do go to the mall , usually during the week, to avoid the madness!

Even if it is exhausting, expensive and time consuming, it is worth it to do something for someone else.

This is truly the meaning of the holidays.  The Grinch said it best though:

Whatever holiday you celebrate this season, whether you give gifts, or do something special for family and friends- we must never forget those who are less fortunate than us , the effort of doing something for them, giving them your time, a gift for a child in need, a donation to an animal shelter, whatever you do –  this is the time of year  that should be filled  with good tidings , good cheer, caring for everyone, thinking about everyone, and happiness to all.  After All – It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!  Believe it!

You Are Awesome!

xoxo

Sookie

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