Rules for holidays

December 16, 2009 by Lonny.

A few facts

  1. We eat too much.
  2. We get stuff we don’t need.
  3. We buy stuff for friends and family that we can’t afford.

Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, or even Valentine’s Day, this is a problem.

The solution?

  1. Don’t eat too much: Don’t eat anything more than normal. If there are lots of dishes at someone else’s meal to which you are invited, take a bite of everything, but overload on nothing. If you can’t walk a mile after eating, something’s wrong.
  2. Bring a healthy dish: If you are asked to bring a dish, make it a super-healthy one. Yes, you’ll be viewed as a Scrooge. Or a fuddy-duddy. Whatever that is. But you’ll be counter-acting the onslaught of calories that others attack you with. Think of your dish as a shield. You are Captain America. Don’t you want to be Captain America?
  3. Give gift certificates: Don’t give store-bought gifts. Give gift certificates – home-made ones, not those little credit-card looking things. A car wash for your neighbors, a massage for your wife, a day at a park or nature trail for your children, a “defend you at all costs” ticket for your boss, and a “drive you to work one week” for a coworker with an unreliable car.
  4. Accept no store-bought gifts: Best way is to pick a charity and (politely) announce to all potential (or obligated) gift givers that you would like nothing more than a donation (of any amount) given to this charity. Works great if charity has online program that can be done instantly. For extra cool points, choose only local charities. If needed, pick up donation cards and envelopes ahead of time – or make your own.
  5. Make crafts: Start early. Children enjoy making things for each other and for Mom and Dad. Don’t kill that spirit with mall shopping, making consumers out of nine-year olds. A lovely afghan from your wife, or maybe a fresh wreath, or the children making a pillow, new curtains, or pencil holders are just a few ideas. If you are good with tools, you could make a bike rack, a new custom headboard for your bed, or maybe a shoe rack for your wife’s shoes.

Inspiration

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