ReThink: Xmas Holidays

Only recently did I realize that Xmas was looming large. This is probably the most commercial and wasteful holiday of them all. (Okay maybe Valentine's is worse). Before you call me a grinch, please remember that Xmas is supposed to be about family, and doing good things for your community. Neither of those entail buying/wrapping/needing/wanting/consuming (other than dinner) and all the negative aspects of the holiday season.

I've decided to make a list of Xmas suggestions. If you can manage 1 out of all of them, then surely you deserve a pat on the back. Imagine if everyone did at least 1 positive thing, then it would truly make a huge difference. I plan on adding more ideas to this list so please check back frequently.

• Buy a potted, replantable Xmas tree, to avoid cutting down a real tree or getting a fake plastic garbage tree. Honestly, it should be a sin to cut down a tree as a 'decoration'
  
• Okay, aside from the religious connotation, the idea is still a good one, check out BuyNothingChristmas.Org
• DO NOT buy gift certificates: They are lousy impersonal gifts, worse than cash and often go un-redeemed. What's worse is that people generally end up spending 15-40% more than the value of the gift certificate (according to the wall street journal)
  
• If you must give something to someone, make sure it's comestible, handmade, or useful
  
• Giving stuff or doing nice things for people should be a year round thing and not dictated by a holiday
• Volunteer