Giftmas & Thismas

Marilyn Monroe, spreading a little Christmas cheer. (Source: Google Images.)

I hate to tell you this, mainly because I don't want to be the one to break it to you, but Christmas really is about the presents.

Hang in there with me, lemme e'splain.

As I am sitting here patiently waiting for the dreary and weary UPS worker to deliver my gifts I had a bit of a revelation. I realized there are two kinds of Christmas: Giftmas- where you frantically run around trying to find the most suitable gift for your mother/spouse/best friend/dog sitter/ annoying co-worker, all the while become more and more stressed out and not even bothering to sit down. Sounds familiar, right?

Then there's Thismas. It's sort of a new thing. Nothing like Kwanza, I assure you. Thismas has a little more to do with just celebrating. Celebrating a day off due to a sudden snow storm, celebrating the joy of adopting a new puppy, or holding vigil for loved ones around the universe.

Christmas only comes once a year, that's true. As does Giftmas. But Thismas is unique. All that is required for Thismas is to take a deep breath and, using all of your senses, taking in the moment.

When you partake in Thismas you will start to notice the annoying over-played carols on the radio are replaced by actual church bells ringing the hour or a Cantata being performed by a local choir. Almost immediately the outdoors no longer smell like sweat and labor, but instead there will be hints of licorice, cloves & clementines, and pine needles. Thismas is about the feel of snow crunching beneath your boots instead of the hard pavement. It's about seeing friends and family you haven't hung out with in ages and whose company you have genuinely missed.

Thismas is about chilling out in the here and now; about the moment you are in as you are reading this.

Welcome Home.

See? Told you Christmas was all about the presence.

Giftmas or Thismas. Which one will you celebrate?