I hate commercialism

I really do.

I don't care if I get a CD player (okay, well, I do because I have two already) or a DS or a set of dishes or an iPod or chocolates or a Barbie or any stupid little thing for Christmas.

I couldn't really feel the spirit this year, you know. It was like... meh.

I realized eventually--that was the problem. We were hung up with OMG MUST GET GIFTS FAST.

Everyone does. It's on the radios. COME HERE FOR YOUR PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFTS! WE SELL TAPE HALF PRICE. It's on the TVs. LOOK, A NEW BABY DOLL THAT PEES AND POOPS.

It's on computers.

Just look at all the google ads.

It's in emails.

HURRY, QUICK FOR YOUR 75% OFF WATCHES.

SPAM.

It's on billboards.

It's in the fridge. Just look. There's that batch of cookie dough thawing out. The oranges. The stuffed full of egg nog and milk and eggs and garlic sausage and turkey and everything just waiting for the 25rd. The nuts on the cupboard--and in the living room, at the computer, everywhere.

It's in the snow, it's in the air, it's in the EVERYTHING. You can't escape commercialism. There's a perfect Christmas portrayed in movies, online, in stories.

It's all about the getting. Oh, sure, admit it--you're giving out gifts too, but it's about the getting. You get a nice feeling, seeing someone tear apart your gift and eating your chocolates and getting fat.

That's what Christmas shouldn't be about.

It should be about unconditional giving. Time, money, thoughts... helping with the dishes, not screaming at people, being calm and simply enjoying the season...

It's about the greatest gift of all.

And that gift, it may be different from person to person, but it doesn't come in a cardboard box from Wal-Mart or Winners or Future Shop, wrapped in plastic and pretty colors.