| Frustrated by the over-commercialization of the | | | | Occasionally look through your closets, pantries, |
| holiday season? Overwhelmed by rising costs and | | | | library shelves and storage areas for things that have |
| dwindling income? Not only do we see people | | | | not been used in the last couple of years or items |
| spending money that they cannot afford around the | | | | you longer wish to own. Choose one section of the |
| holidays we also see people become nicer, more | | | | home at a time if you have a lot to go through. |
| giving. It is easy to feel annoyed when we see | | | | Donate the items to the less fortunate through food |
| people "into" the spirit of being a nice person for this | | | | kitchens, shelters for the homeless, women's support |
| short period of time only. A lot of talk and a lot of | | | | centers and missions. Send books to the library and |
| noise along with the pressure to buy, buy, buy - | | | | your local literacy programs - and don't forget to |
| others find the holidays a time of additional stress | | | | drop off items to thrift stores that raise funds for |
| because they are alone. | | | | charities or hospitals. |
| Many of us dream of attaining a simpler lifestyle and | | | | If you have a few dollars to spare, even $20 would |
| we can see the demand by all the information posted | | | | do, take the family down to the local grocery or pet |
| online and the newsletters on living a more simplistic | | | | shop and try to get as many items as you can for |
| or sustainable life. Use your favorite search engine to | | | | that money. Go down as a group and donate them |
| find them to find a myriad of articles, books and two | | | | to a food bank or animal shelter. If you can, try to |
| positive radio programs that will help you in your | | | | purchase one item per family member as a donation |
| journey. | | | | for the food bank every time you go shopping. Even |
| Families are now going back to earlier traditions of | | | | one can of tuna a week can make a world of |
| making gifts by hand rather than buying them (plates | | | | difference. |
| of goodies, crafts, art, dried arrangements, dried or | | | | Some families have taken on the task of repairing |
| processed vegetables, herbs and jams from their | | | | broken toys purchased at garage sales and thrift |
| gardens, etc). Some are making the most of family | | | | shops, which they then donate to others during the |
| fun during the holidays by creating treasure hunts (as | | | | holidays. Perhaps you have a talent at a craft such as |
| opposed to wrapping the gifts) - which is good for | | | | knitting mittens and slippers that you can use to help |
| environment because it reduces waste. Many families | | | | others. |
| are taking on environmental themes in their holiday | | | | Creative ideas like these are guaranteed to take the |
| gift giving by choosing gifts that will benefit the | | | | blues right out of your season, while getting the |
| recipient and the environment. | | | | family involved in your community. Doing various |
| Another sure way to break the blues is to make | | | | holiday activities gets us out of our houses and into |
| someone else's life a little brighter. Do you have a | | | | some fresh air. Living a more frugal and simplistic life |
| relative or neighbor that finds it difficult to wrap | | | | encourages bonding between family and friends. |
| gifts? Help them with the task or purchase some | | | | Meanwhile we are able to make a measurable |
| reusable gift bags and boxes for them to use. | | | | difference in our community. These kinds of ideas |
| Individuals and groups of friends can volunteer at | | | | bring more life, adventure and love to us all for an |
| several places around their community, if only for an | | | | extended period of time - they are memories and |
| afternoon; check with the local volunteer office if | | | | legacies that will last a lifetime. |
| you are looking for places that need a hand. | | | | |