Christmas Rally

Happy almost HO HO HO!!! It's is exciting, well because I do love Christmas! Why do I love it so much? I had a revelation, just today in fact, when thinking about how much I love Christmas- which is quite a lot!! I have always been this way and everyone in my life knows it! I am one of "those" who plays Christmas music in the summer when I am sad!

My conclusion- which I do feel is quite brilliant- is ...

I love Christmas because everyone has to love each other! I mean- you don't have to... but it is slightly mandatory for the season if one were to think about it! People do secret santas, people donate, people wishing total stranger HAPPY HOLIDAYS! People exchanging things with others to represent their relationship or show the other that they care. I mean- how can you NOT love everyone in this holiday season, unless you are a scrouge. And if there are any scrouges out there... spend one day with me and I will show you love and you will be infected. It is a beautiful infection, be assured!

On sunday, I was a part of a Christmas Rally. That is what I am choosing to call it, by the way, I do not really know what else to call it. To me- it was a rally to bring Christmas back to what it really is. Now we have movies that preach what Christmas is. The Grinch had that song "Where are you Christmas?" And Jack Frost has the dad who died and came back as a snowman to be with his son and family. We get it- Christmas is NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT THE GIFTS. Let's face it- it is! We live in a secular world where our religion has become money. I have a lot of issues with that one- but I will leave it for another post. For now I would like to discuss the Christmas Rally I was involved in and please read on if you are so inclined to learn about it!

I got together with a group of -oh 10-12 people and we had white shirts that we wrote different slogans on. The messages all were intended to put forth the idea of thinking about the person you are buying a gift for, for the holidays, and find something appropriate. This was not an ANTI-CONSUMERISM protest. It was simply a RALLY intended to bring people to the awareness that they do usually know the person they are buying for and so why not buy something that represents that person to you. Why buy for the sake of buying when you can purchase something lovely and meaningful that really shows you care. It was about stopping and thinking.

And so in the attempt to demonstrate the slowing down to think we walked PAINFULLY slowly throughout the downtown Vancouver mall. It was Sunday December 20th and it was a pretty full mall. We walked slowly and people saw us- I didn't make contact and instead looked around aimlessly and tried to avoid looking in shop display windows, which at some points was tricky! We also sang Christmas carols, which was my favorite part!

So in this season of giving... if it isn't the gift but really the thought- and I really believe it can be... BUCK UP and put some thought into it. Don't fret and buy something silly just to buy something. Think about the person you are buying for- who are they to you and what is something that they would appreciate or maybe even enjoy for more than 15 minutes?! Reflect on them and find something that represents who they are to you. I have always shopped that way and trust me- it is very enjoyable. Not always easy, albeit, but usually turns out well. A word to the wise, though. If it is the 23rd or 24th of December and you still haven't even started shopping- which is something I do not understand- then yes. Panic! Go and buy things that kinda represent the person. But at least write them a meaningful card for goodness sake!!

Happy Holidays to you all!

Love and Respect!