OPINION: Take a moment to remember the true meaning of Christmas

People’s lives seem to be getting busier all the time, rushing from here to there and constantly trying to keep on top of things - we at least that it how it appears to be for many of us.

Christmas - the season of goodwill, a time of joy and merriment can become an added pressure but only if we allow it to be.

Already we are bombarded with advertising and messaging on how to create ‘the perfect Christmas’. For many years this constant barrage of messaging through media has bemused me somewhat - Christmas is a Christian celebration of the birth of Christ yet it has become so commercialised that some people probably fail to remember and acknowledge that.

Winter is a time to hibernate, to take stock and to look forward to brighter and longer days ahead - it is a time for reflection as the winter solstice approaches.

This year I am consciously paring down Christmas. I am taking away the expectations and am going to try my best to be mindful and meaningful in how I enjoy the holiday period.

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I am making a vow not to get caught up in the commercial madness that usually results in spending money on stuff that other people do not need or want and in return receiving more stuff that I most likely do not need or want. There is so much suffering in the world at this moment that wasting money on things we don’t need feels wrong. This year more than ever reputable aid charities need donations.

During the past year I have spent a lot of time trying to use my time well - it is not always easy to try and slow down and be present - but it is always a worthwhile endeavour when it works. Our health and having the time to enjoy life with our loved ones is what matters and gives meaning to our lives.

This Christmas I am going to spend my time well, with family and friends and not get caught up in the frenzied overconsumption. I will give freely of my time and energy and invest it in people and not things. I will go on long walks in nature and take the time to connect and reconnect with loved ones and with myself.

The tradition of giving gifts at Christmas time is long established but trying to minimise cost - both financial and environmental is important. Regifting is an excellent idea, the adage that one man’s rubbish is another man’s treasure rings true and we all have items we no longer use or want or need that could bring enjoyment or have purpose for someone else.

Making or crafting a gift is also a lovely gesture, be it baking a cake or making a pot of jam but I think the essence is in the gesture and not the size or cost.

Often meeting up and sharing in each other’s company is the most meaningful and memorable of gifts.
The environmental cost of our transactions is also something to be mindful of - the planet cannot continue to sustain being a dumping ground for us humans and we all have to massively reduce how much we consume.

We live in a country with one of the richest economy’s in Europe and there is a glut of excess in our lives. It is hard to say stop, to say no, especially when everywhere we look businesses are trying their best to make us believe we need their products. But for the most part we don’t.

Christmas is a time for peace and this year more than ever we need this in our hearts and for that to radiate out into the world. We need to practice forgiveness in our lives and be welcoming and kind to each other.

In a time of such massive unrest and with wars raging and tens of thousands of innocent civilians killed we all need to try and take action to collectively build and create a more humane society. We need peace and understanding and charity and tolerance. And we need to build this in our own homes, workplaces, schools and communities.

I never thought I would live through a pandemic, it seemed surreal. These past few months with all the war and hatred while innocent men, women and children are murdered is sickening to the core. Innocent people trapped and left to die with no way to leave a warzone - it is incomprehensible that it is happening in our lifetimes.

This Christmas be peaceful, be kind, be understanding and be hopeful for a better world for all people.