Gift Giving

Fun and a little stressful.  Many of us know the work of Marie Kondo, the queen of tidying up.  Keep what “sparks joy” and rid your space of the rest.  There is wisdom in this philosophy, for sure.  But instead of getting rid of stuff, what if we don’t buy it in the first place?

I grew up in Oklahoma and Holiday time was buy a bunch of stuff time.  Decorations, stuff for parties, random things to give people, disposable plates and utensils and cups for easy-to-clean-up parties.  I was just there last week and it pains me to say, from what I saw, things haven’t changed much.

I want to do better.

Buying things that end up in landfills, or the ocean, is something that bothers me now.  Until I committed to a more mindful and intentional life, with a vow to minimize the harm I do in the world as much as I can, I didn’t really think about it.  As we would say in Yoga, it wasn’t in my awareness.  But it is now, and once it is in there, you can’t just ignore it.

So, for Holiday gifts, why not a gift of wellness instead of stuff?  Cooking classes, studio or gym memberships, a weekend away, meditation coaching, and online wellness courses are all examples.  If you have a Partner or loved one who would like to participate in a wellness activity but struggles to find time due to kids or other obligations, maybe buy a package of classes and include a promise to do what it takes to free up the other to have time to do the activity.  A dual gift!
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