Blessed to be Kiwis

If you’re a serial eavesdropper like me, you might be picking up on a bit of a common theme around Christmas this year. Lots of people are saying things like, ‘I don’t need anything’ and ‘we’re not giving gifts this year’. So what’s going on here? Has the Grinch stolen all our Christmas spirit?

Maybe it is just an age thing – the older you get the more you realise that spending good times with family and friends is so much more rewarding than creating a giant mountain of wrapping paper in the lounge! Christmas shouldn’t be an excuse to over-indulge in food and alcohol, and buy a hideous amount of presents for children. Not only is it hard on the wallet, but also it creates an unhealthy perception that happiness has a price tag.

Ask people what their best memories of Christmas are and invariably they will talk of simple things like Grandma’s unbeatable trifle, Dad’s lame jokes, playing with cousins and just enjoying some carefree time with family, whatever shape that ‘family’ might take. It is much better for a child to receive one present that they love and appreciate, than 10 that are quickly discarded (or broken).

But above all, don’t forget that we are blessed to live in one of the loveliest countries on the planet. Celebrate Christmas by appreciating Aotearoa’s natural environment. Go swimming, bushwalking, stargazing or just lie on the beach and eavesdrop on the ocean. Christmas comes but once a year; keep it simple and enjoy it.