Do you remember how magical Christmas was when you were a kid? Yes presents are fun, but more so than the presents I remember the experiences. I could not tell you what I got for Christmas most years, but I could tell you what happened. Family comes into town, so you get to see aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins. Christmas parties and special events, driving to look at lights, going to a Christmas play, or going out late for some other Christmas event. It is a festive party month that ends with another party on New Year’s! All the decorations and lights make everything so fun to look at. So with all this nostalgia in mind, I began thinking about gifts, and what are the very best kind.

A family member of mine gifted me with a calendar full of family pictures, and a family cookbook filled with recipes from extended family. Each recipe has a history, and a story from the person who submitted it. It was a mindful gift, and one that got me thinking. There is a lot of stress that surrounds Christmas because a month long party can be quite costly, however it can be just as fun on a budget. Some of my fondest holiday memories occurred during periods when we were penny pinching, and it can be the same for our kids too. Spending a lot of money is not the name of the game, and does not necessarily convey love. If you have a lot to spend that is absolutely wonderful, but if not do not fret because family connection is what it is all about.

When buying presents be mindful of your wallet so you can enjoy the experience instead of it becoming a stress. The only person deciding what needs to be bought is you. At the end of December you want to look back at this month and feel good about what happened here. If you are on a tight budget, then buy your kids one thing on their list instead of everything. Or, when you ask them to make a list give them a price range for the gift requests, and have them get creative with their requests. The rest of the gifts you give them can be experiences they will never forget. When I was a kid all I wanted was more time with mom and dad. Keep that in mind if you are stressed that you cannot give more to your kids.

Giving mindfully to yourself and others will make this season fun, and will eliminate the stress. Giving a thoughtful gift from a place of love will touch the person you are giving it to while filling them with joy. Spreading joy, love, compassion, gratitude, and any other higher frequency emotions will open your heart center. Really think about the people you are buying presents for, and get those things that will let them know you put thought into it.

Be mindful of giving to yourself as well by de-stressing when you need to, and allotting time to do things that you enjoy too. All too often the person caring for others gets so caught up that they forget to care about themselves. In other words the cook ends up cleaning too! I know because I have watched all the women in my family do it (I have done it too), and it makes it very difficult to find a second to enjoy anything. Ask for help, and have everyone participate in the holiday preparations. It will make it easier on you, and will bring the family closer together from the interaction. Be mindful this Christmas about the experiences you are creating, and make sure they are as amazing for you as they are for everyone else. Have a spectacular Christmas!

“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” – Mother Teresa