"Bah! Humbug" Reversed

Here are my ideas for "doing the opposite" in relation to my Holiday pessimism:


Refrain from shopping for the month of December:

Now this is a tough one.  I feel that one of the things that makes me pessimistic about Christmas is that I  don't have anything "new" and "exciting" to celebrate--no baby, no new love, no new plans.  And so new "things" can often be a real teaser.    I can't tell you enough how I am addicted to checking groupons and online shopping pages and often feel better about getting dressed in the morning if I have something "new" to wear.

But it is against my beliefs.  Material things don't make us happier people.   A scientist recently predicted that centuries from now, when humans have died out and the earth is "recovering", a considerable percentage of the landfill we have left behind will be plastic items, especially children's toys.  They are cheap items that our cultures have created to make children "happy".  That is really depressing to me--the landfill part.  Because as many of us know, most of these toys accumulate in closets and basements and are barely played with in comparison to electronics.
Just the same way that material things i buy for myself offer fleeting fulfillment.  Fulfillment that is not relative to the waste all of this consumerism produces.  But I'm going to avoid my politics and deal with my opposite action, since I too, have the desire to buy new things.


Hold Sixteen Small Dinner Parties:

Okay, so maybe not sixteen.  But many.  I have so many friends and family who have been so generous to me.  And now its time for me to treat them.  And I'm not going to make it convenient...(that's another urge I want to do the opposite of) and throw one large party like I've done in previous years.  No, i want to host small dinner parties so that I can share intimate moments with people who are dear to me.


Write or Call friends who I've lost touch with:

Just because I'm not sending a photo postcard with a growing family doesn't mean that people don't want to hear from me.  I love the Smiths line , "writing Christmas cards, with an utter disdain," because in many cases, the great Christmas card exchange is a superficial act.  So I am looking for ways to make it mine.  What I always did like was the Valentine card exchange in school.  It was pretty damn exciting to see what risks everyone would take and if I'd get any "nuggets" to take home, read into, slip into my diary and keep for months.  Maybe I could send out flirtatious cards or notes or emails to people in my life... or maybe I'll just find an old fashioned way to re-connect with friends I've grown distant from...


Volunteer or Just be more Generous
I can be kinda selfish at times.  Now there may be some good reasons why...but what an ever better reason to try "doing the opposite" and being more generous in general.  Not necessarily with material things, but with compliments, and patience, and optimism...  this is going to be a hard one for me :)