Let Them Close

I came to a conclusion this Christmas season: there are too many things in this world. In the Western world for sure.

There are Christmas villages, Christmas fairs, Christmas stores, and than every other store has Christmas line of products as early as November, some October. Not as bad as in other places where it starts in September... like Philippines for instance. I'm not aware if things start earlier in any other place, but I wouldn't be surprised.

Merry Christmas

As I browsed various stores, the creativity, the variety, and the number or things on display is endless. And you know what? Looking at all there is, it occurred to me that there are not enough people to buy them all. Even discounted. Shoppers were scarce and some shops were quite empty day after day despite all the cute, beautiful ornaments and gifts offered. If anyone made money it was surely the venues renting out the spaces. Made money...

And it's not just at Christmas. It's a fact of life here: everything in excess. I find it somewhat amusing how people nowadays seem to rely so much of studies and research, as if you need "scientific" proof of everything before stating it. Yet, if you pay a bit of attention you will see with a naked eye what's happening. Here is the latest: it turns out someone did a study and found that 14 shops per day are closing on high streets in the UK. And if you do a search "stores closing down" you will find name after name of retailers big and small downsizing or going under completely. 

A Snippet of Gourmet Gifts

As far as I see, there are way too many clothes, shoes and things around here. For all to sell you'd have to have people shopping full time. Is this what we are made for? Shop till we drop? Get more things? 

Or is Christmas about that and giving gifts, or getting drunk, getting into fights, or going home crying, as observed on Christmas Eve streets?  

Don't get me wrong. I'm not against gifts. It's a beautiful thing - a "better to give than receive" thing. A gift it's given out of free will by definition, but I wonder if it's often felt as an obligation. I think it often puts pressure on people. And how come Santa doesn't bring one gift, but many? Aren't we letting the marketing industry, pushing a consumer culture, lullaby us into taking that as a norm? Like zombies, we go thru the motion to match the images broadcasted on the big screens, without stopping to ask whether that manipulation does us or our children any good.

Christmas is rather about giving the gift of love and good quality time with loved ones, reaching out, talking about the reason for the season and the difference it has made; leaving the worries and the bad behind, being thankful for what we've got, and forgiving, so that healing of mind and soul comes.

The Little Things in the Morning

So I'll say, let them close. Let things come into balance and let joy flow from above in and out of hearts full of gratitude. Than the New Year might be happy indeed!

What is your take on that?