Spirit Of Christmas
December 14, 2007 | Filed under Life
I’ve been seeing a lot of people listing their Christmas wishlists on their blogs recently. Unsurprisingly, high-tech electronics worth hundreds of dollars tend to rank highly on these lists…but is that what Christmas is really about? Where’s the Christmas spirit, the giving spirit, the thinking of others with greater needs?
It’s not to say that I blame others for thinking of themselves rather than others…aren’t we by nature material animals? Having things isn’t a bad thing, wanting more things without thinking of other people’s needs first is.
Here then, are five things you can do in the leadup to Christmas to make life happier and easier for someone else, rather than obsessing over what gifts you yourself may receive:
Clean out your wardrobe. I say this all the time, but if you don’t wear an item anymore (e.g. it hasn’t been worn in over six months), then donate it! Give it to the Salvation Army, or the equivalent in your country. Someone in need will benefit from wearing what you won’t wear, and simply having new clothes for a special occasion could make a happier Christmas for that person.
Give away your old schoolbooks and textbooks. Rather than selling them to a second-hand store or throwing them out, ask your school if they collect old textbooks to pass onto incoming students who can’t afford to buy them. You could be saving a new student from the hurtful taunts that are levelled against those who are noticeably less wealthy than their schoolmates.
Buy a (sensible) brand new gift and donate it to your local gift collector. K-mart, one of the all-purpose chain stores in Australia has a Christmas gift appeal, whereby each store has a large Christmas tree, under which you’re free to place a wrapped gift. These gifts are then distributed to the needy. I’m sure there are equivalents of this service in other countries as well.
Volunteer some time. Take three or four hours out of your day to volunteer some time at a local nursing home or similar – taking an elderly lady out for some shopping so she can buy presents for her family, then helping her wrap the presents won’t require much effort from you, but would make all the difference for that lady.
Dress up like Santa and hand out candy canes. My friend did this while she was in China last year – she found a Santa suit, dressed up, and handed out hundreds of candy canes to random people on the street. The cost was negligible (what, $20 for a box of 100 candy canes?), but that little act of kindness can transform a person’s entire day.
Remember, the magic of Christmas is in the giving, not the receiving. Do your part for the less fortunate this holiday season.
7 Responses to Spirit Of Christmas
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I agree, why not forget about any kind of incoming gift and just wish for fun :D
Chris on December 14, 2007 #
It’s not that I don’t believe in helping others – but you have to admit, it’d be a little weird to list “giving stuff away” on your wishlist. =P
I really need a new laptop. Wanting that doesn’t stop me from partaking in charity now or any other time of year.
Jack on December 14, 2007 #
I might give some clothes to the Salvation Army, now that you suggest it. I have a few pairs of pants that are too big for me. I usually just give ‘em to my brother, but he doesn’t exactly need new clothes. :P
Jordie on December 14, 2007 #
Since I’m Jewish, can I dress up as a menorah and sprinkle the city with dreidels, to the tune of Adam Sandler’s Hanukkah song? PLEASE?
Oh, and you don’t like HSM?
Meli on December 14, 2007 #
This post reminds me of a comic I saw recently, in which a boy completes the sentence “Christmas is for…” with GETTING!
Those are all great ideas.
Kaylee on December 14, 2007 #
I most definitely agree about the Salvation Army. It’s something I do several time a year.
Something else me and my family started doing two years ago was visiting patients in hospitals and handing out flowers and gift baskets. It’s priceless to see their faces light up when they have unexpected visitors, particularly those who don’t have family of friends that visit them.
Kiera on December 14, 2007 #
Yeah everyone does want high texh stuff. I want new sneakers, and a journal ha.
I love the message you’re trying to give.
<3 Lauren
Lauren on December 15, 2007 #