I've started the countdown. The countdown to when Christmas preparations wear me out to the point where I get sick. Usually happens around Dec. 9th-ish, my Dad's birthday. I've been sick on his birthday the past 2 years. This year, however, I can't get sick then because that's the day before my brother's wedding. So I guess it will have to come earlier or later.
I never get headaches, but apparently I have one this morning. It's made me quite cranky.
Rant: I am not referring to anyone specifically with this rant. Just general malaise. So don't think I am referring to anyone personally.
I get extremely stressed out this time of year. I wasn't born with an "I don't give a fuck" switch, so I am incapable of buying presents for people without caring whether they like what they get or not. Of course, not everyone thinks this way, which means I put hours upon hours of effort into thinking of presents, shopping for them, wrapping them, delivering them. The presents I get in return often don't reflect the same level of thought and preparation. Some of them can be downright crap.
I don't care about receiving the most expensive presents. It's the fact that no thought goes into some presents. I'd rather people spend money on the less fortunate than get me a crap present. Wrap up a Mars bar and give me that for xmas, and I'm happy. It's my favorite chocolate bar, won't sit around the house going unused, gathering dust and getting in my way. And it shows me that you know me well enough to get me something I really enjoy - even if it only cost $1. The fact that someone sat down and consciously said "hey, Liz really likes this, I should get it for her" is worth more to me than most things.
I sat last night with my list of things bought, left to buy, and the usual empty spaces for people who are impossible to buy for. Eternally frustrating. This saps my love of Christmas down the drain. I care too much. I could just get these people some crap present... but I can't. It's just not in me to do that.
3 comments:
It sucks that love of Christmas is sapped by these kinds of considerations.
I hate the stress of Christmas: trying to keep people happy about what I'm doing and where I'm going on certain days. It's draining, at best.
At least I have a "don't-give-a-fuck" switch.
i don't get so tired with christmas, but then, i get great glee out of wrapping the gifts. some people are hard to shop for, i agree, but for those people i find the gift of shopping is good - my brother, for instance.
This particular feeling is why I stopped buying presents several years ago for friends. I buy for my family only and a couple of kids. But... for my friends I write letters. I start my letter writing in October and really spend a great deal of time and put a lot of thought into reviewing the last year and expressing what they mean to me, noting things that were important to me in our friendship over that year no matter how small it was. I've gotten rave reviews of this and a couple people have started the same. I've had several people tell me that it was the best thing they've ever received for Xmas 'cause it really comes from the heart and shows a lot of thought, effort, and caring. And the best part? It costs me only about $10 for the fancy paper set & envelopes to do the entirety of those that I write the letters for. Plus I get the bonus of knowing that people who are important to me know that.
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