You made me chuckle when you said "it is too easy to boycott something you wouldn't buy anyways". How true that is! Thank you for this lovely letter with wonderful message(s) and hope your household gets back to normal soon.
Yum pie for breakfast. I have done that many times. Christmas can contain beloved traditions along with too many unattainable expectations. My Christmas will be bittersweet with the loss of my dad and my mom not well alongside seeing my daughter, son-in-law and grandson (who live 2000 miles away). I’m hoping being together is enough.
I picked up Consumed based on your recommendation, so thank you for that.
(And on the Hallmark aesthetic, some day I plan to write about women’s footwear in those movies. )
Dec 12, 2023·edited Dec 12, 2023Liked by Anne Vally
Love the offline list! Years ago, I used to do something called "Sustainable Saturday." Every Saturday, all devices (including the TV) were turned off for the entire day, and everybody, including the kids, had to find alternative ways to entertain themselves. It was a valuable learning experience.
Yes, it’s complicated. I respect and admire your clarity of thought, Anne, as always.
I lost both of my elderly parents in the last year and I miss them so much. Christmas celebrations revolved around them. I just don’t feel like doing it this year. The media onslaught of consumerism seems particularly galling this year. All I want is time together with my husband and our adult sons.
Thank you for sharing such profound ideas with the rest of us. I've been getting Black Friday/sale messages since October. It's exhausting and I buy into it too much. Good idea to be more mindful at this time of year. "Consuming" in order to gift others is still consumption. I try to make mine as meaningful to the person gifted and select my vendors thoughtfully (and as small as possible).
I'm very much in this space of trying not to get sucked into sales and feeling like I "need" everything. It's actually been a lot easier than I thought it would be to ignore all the holiday sales emails, and I'm feeling really good about where I am with planning and buying gifts.
Thank you for the reminder that more does not equal better, it was what I needed to hear. This year has been exceptionally difficult as I struggle with loss, grief, and anxiety; I find myself being drawn into an overwhelming desire to purchase those last-minute countdown calendars (even though I told myself back in July that I did not want or need them, they aren't really that cool)! I'm trying to fill that emptiness in a way that isn't healthful. I pledge to give myself some space and grace this season.
You made me chuckle when you said "it is too easy to boycott something you wouldn't buy anyways". How true that is! Thank you for this lovely letter with wonderful message(s) and hope your household gets back to normal soon.
Yum pie for breakfast. I have done that many times. Christmas can contain beloved traditions along with too many unattainable expectations. My Christmas will be bittersweet with the loss of my dad and my mom not well alongside seeing my daughter, son-in-law and grandson (who live 2000 miles away). I’m hoping being together is enough.
I picked up Consumed based on your recommendation, so thank you for that.
(And on the Hallmark aesthetic, some day I plan to write about women’s footwear in those movies. )
Love the offline list! Years ago, I used to do something called "Sustainable Saturday." Every Saturday, all devices (including the TV) were turned off for the entire day, and everybody, including the kids, had to find alternative ways to entertain themselves. It was a valuable learning experience.
Yes, it’s complicated. I respect and admire your clarity of thought, Anne, as always.
I lost both of my elderly parents in the last year and I miss them so much. Christmas celebrations revolved around them. I just don’t feel like doing it this year. The media onslaught of consumerism seems particularly galling this year. All I want is time together with my husband and our adult sons.
I’ve lost mine as well. You’re right--the consumerism is tone deaf. Peace to you and yours.
Same, same, same on the mood. And hugs. Loss is so hard.
Thank you for sharing such profound ideas with the rest of us. I've been getting Black Friday/sale messages since October. It's exhausting and I buy into it too much. Good idea to be more mindful at this time of year. "Consuming" in order to gift others is still consumption. I try to make mine as meaningful to the person gifted and select my vendors thoughtfully (and as small as possible).
I'm very much in this space of trying not to get sucked into sales and feeling like I "need" everything. It's actually been a lot easier than I thought it would be to ignore all the holiday sales emails, and I'm feeling really good about where I am with planning and buying gifts.
Thank you for the reminder that more does not equal better, it was what I needed to hear. This year has been exceptionally difficult as I struggle with loss, grief, and anxiety; I find myself being drawn into an overwhelming desire to purchase those last-minute countdown calendars (even though I told myself back in July that I did not want or need them, they aren't really that cool)! I'm trying to fill that emptiness in a way that isn't healthful. I pledge to give myself some space and grace this season.
Oof. I really really hear you on that feeling of wanting to fill the emptiness. Hugs. 💙 You can make it through.