I walked into Hobby Lobby the other day to find small organza bags. It was overwhelming the moment I stepped through the door. The place reeked of China and plastic, mounds of green and red balls, plastic trees, lights to hang, candy canes to put on fake trees, and wrapping paper that filled entire aisles.
I could feel my heart rate rise.
I just wanted to find these little bags and get out. I set out, on foot, like a shopping soldier, walking at a clip up and down every row, searching through the holiday babbles for this one elusive item.
As I strode along, it struck me how, as a culture, we work so hard for our money and then spend that cash on so many disposable items made of materials that won’t last and will be in the trash before the year is over.
What if we just said “no”? Not to the holiday, but to all of the stuff of the holiday. The pressure to buy gifts, to buy the wrapping paper, to buy the latest gadgets, decorations, perfect napkins? What if instead we shopped in our own homes? Because, really, don’t we ALLhave enough stuff? Don’t we have ample things we are not using and want to get rid of?
What if we chose to shop in our own homes and gift our family and friends with items we love but are no longer using? What if we did it with pride and ownership and told the story of where we got the item, how it came to us and passed it on with our energy infused into it?
Wouldn’t that be special? To say, “I’ve had this poetry book for 10 years and I have loved it. And I know you love poetry, so I want you to have it and enjoy it like I have.” Or perhaps we offer it up this way, “I’ve had these earrings that I bought in Mexico 15 years ago. I’ve worn them through many years, events, and bits of life, and I’d love for you to have them.”
Wouldn’t THAT be something? To re-gift and fully own it. Tell the story of the object, its energy with us and then send it on down the river of life?
Or maybe we make the things - we make home-made chai mixes, or face creams, or art to give to our people.
I like to envision thatworld. One where we gift our family and friends with our own energy in home-made gifts, or repurposed items from our lives, and we do it with pride and gratitude for all of the abundance we already have.