I am feeling a little caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. My holiday list keeps on growing even though we are trying to pare down a bit this year and I find that I am constantly trying to remember to “breath, relax my shoulders, and not worry so much.”

Every blog  I read is filled with holiday cheer; filled with wonderfully beautiful traditions, stories of family and joy, and reminders about how to “get back to basics.” Nevertheless, I feel stressed thinking of the gifts I still need to create, the hours I need to set aside to decorate cookies with the children, the dates by which I need to ship off gifts to faraway friends and family, and which charity I am to donate to. Where did all of this come from? How did I get into this hamster wheel? And how do I get out?

I am starting with the children. What do I want them to remember as adults? I want them to understand the true meaning of Christmas. I want them to remember togetherness, generosity in their hearts, excitement about special shared traditions, and a sense of self in the whirlwind of buying, blinky lights, and social obligation all around them.

I want to remember others at this time. Returning from Mexico really got me thinking about others in this world who simply have nothing. Nothing to eat, no where to sleep soundly, and no clothing to keep them warm. I have so many things and access to so many opportunities.   I often take more than I need, and waste more than I should. Taking a bit of advice from my friend Marci who writes about Overcoming Busy, I am trying to overcome busy in my life, live what is true and real, and roll with the punches a bit.

To start getting my family “back to basics” we are beginning with a simple Christmas meal. I love to cook with extravagant, special ingredients like lobster, saffron, and premium chocolate. But this year with uncertain economics it seems prudent to scale back on the food, eat simply, and share our wealth, love and time, with others who have less.

I am hand-making most of the gifts our family is to give this year. Although this adds to the stress level a bit, I feel it puts a little bit of my soul into each gift I give, and offers my children the chance to give something they have created with their hearts.

I feel we own entirely too much plastic in the way of toddler toys, dishware, containers, acrylic clothing, light fixtures, furniture…I think we must be swimming in a sea of petroleum. What happened to natural materials like fabric, wood, and metal? I am aiming to make, select, and ask for gifts that are made from natural materials with love and care.

And lastly, I am remembering to question. Question what I am doing, why I am doing it, and if what I am doing will build spirited family traditions and joyful memories, or if it will just drop us off at the curb of “going through the motions” again.