Monday Moment - Shopping Choices

again - rampant consumerism time!

Oh, does that sound cynical? About the holidays themselves - and most of the trimmings too - I really am not of a cynical nature. I love the glow of decorations, the music, the festive gatherings of friends and family, and much more. I even love the spirit of giving and have long been convinced that the packages under the tree are some of the prettiest decorations in my whole house.

But. What I don't love is the rampant consumerism that began to be encouraged in my community right around the second week in October. I understand that retailers rely on holiday spending for their well-being - but haven't things been getting out of hand? Just last week I noticed a little rush when I handed over some cash for a non-necessary small indulgence. What is that about? Is that who I want to be?

This year, two ideas keep inserting themselves in my head.

One is a story that I heard about a family in California who took a pledge to not buy anything new - other than food and necessary consumables - for a whole year. They began in January 2007 flushed with excitement and in a pique of disgust over the excess they experienced during the holidays of 2006. By mid-year they were still feeling proud and glad they'd made the pledge - though it was becoming more and more challenging. With the holidays and every bit of the print, broadcast, and internet media focused on getting us to buy, buy, buy - well I wonder how they're doing now.

And I wonder if I could - or would want to - do what they did?

The second idea came from my pal Ray. As we drove through our small downtown, he said, "You know what the Chamber of Commerce should do? They should challenge us to do all our holiday shopping downtown - and then they should ask us what we wanted to find but couldn't in the stores that are available."

Hmmm... Now there's another interesting thought. After all, our community retailers - undoubtedly like your own - are always reminding us that buying locally is a good idea - and it's something I do believe. But as I scan my shopping requirements, I wonder. Can I find what I want to find in our relatively small assortment of stores? Certainly, I'll pay more for some things than I would in those big box stores. That's one of the disadvantages of small, independently owned stores. But would I save by not driving to those big boxes? Probably.

Would it be less stressful and more fun to shop in familiar stores where I might see neighbors and friends? Oh Probably! Would I - and the people for whom I shop - benefit from a more focused product selection? Well, I'm not sure yet.

And I haven't decided yet what I'll do this year to avoid letting rampant consumerism take over my holiday season. Either of these two ideas - not shopping at all or only shopping locally - seem like they might be too extreme for my requirements. This year - as I've done in other years - I'll satisfy most of my gifting requirements with home-mades like family histories, ornaments, and such. But for those things I feel a need to buy outright - well, I don't yet know what approach I'll take. What I do know is that these two ideas will be in my head filtering all my choices - and now they'll be in your head too!

Monday Moment - Joyful, Thankful, and Glad

"God would like us to be joyful even when our hearts lie panting on the floor! How much more should we be joyful when we really have something to be joyful for?"

That's a favorite line from a favorite song from a favorite Broadway show. The song, 'L'Chaim,' the musical, Fiddler on the Roof. And in my more evolved moments, it's more than a line from a song. It's a mantra for my life - to help remind me to keep joy and thanksgiving in my being.

I'm a person who seems to need a lot of such mantras. Another is "In all things, give thanks." Had I been paying attention in Sunday School or more rigorously practiced my religious upbringing, I'd be able to quote chapter and verse where this particular mantra shows up in the Bible. My adult awareness of this mantra came, however, from reading one of Jan Karon's wonderful novels in the Mitford Series. Father Tim, an Episcopal priest, knows he has much to be thankful for, but still feels mired in depression - until he remembers that the verse is not 'In some things give thanks.' When he comes to the realization that he must also find a way to be thankful for the depression itself, the weight lifts.

Which reminds me of yet another model for living - Pollyanna herself. Now I'm of the opinion that Pollyanna has been given a bad rap in our cynical popular culture. Have you read this wonderful book by Eleanor H. Porter? Or do you, like others I know, simply disparage those who persistently work to find something positive in every situation? If you've read the book, you'll know that Pollyanna doesn't have an easy life. She's orphaned and left in the care of a stiff-necked maiden aunt who doesn't want her and tries to prevent her from leading a normal childhood. She takes a terrible fall that might paralyze or kill her - and through it all, she's able to find something, some tiny kernel about which to feel glad. You might call that sappy, but I call it inspired!

Today I'm joyful, glad, and thankful about dozens upon dozens of things - including these literary mantras that remind me to make Thanksgiving as a life-long pursuit. I'm thankful for turkey and cranberries and all the trimmings as well! I often think that the traditional Thanksgiving meal is far too tasty to eat just once a year - and with Tevye, Father Tim, and Pollyanna as my mantra mentors, I hope I'll eat life with as much joyful, thankful, gladness as I'll dig into that turkey on Thursday!

I hope you do too!