Window Shopping

 Christmas music began the day after Halloween.  Not in my house (obviously, because that's obnoxious).  But in the stores it did.  As a matter of fact when I was at Costco, the day before Halloween the Christmas stuff was already out and on sale.  Thanksgiving seems to have gotten missed entirely.  Which I suppose is fair, because as of yet it seems to be a little less commercial.  At least, less than companies counting on consumers would like it to be.
What does that say about us as a society?  Driven from one holiday to the next to buy and buy.  And buy.  
This holiday season I find myself putting lots in my virtual cart online.  Hello Black Friday sales!  Only it wasn't Black Friday, because I refused to participate in that...but by Monday I had worn down and was pursuing all the "last minute, last chance, buy NOW" deals.
And then, surprizingly, never following through with the purchase.  
It was fun to wear the sweater in my head for a few hours.  And have that pretty trinket for my daughter, imagining her face light up after opening the gift.
I put a lot in my cart.
And then after allowing it to sit in my mind, closed down the website.  (Wait...WWHHHAAAATT?)
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Sometimes it's fun to imagine what life would be or could be. (Is it possible to add real estate to my online cart?). But when I actually spend time in my life I come to the same conclusion.  I have enough.  As a matter of fact I have more than enough.  And looking more closely I begin to pack up a bag for Goodwill, of all the stuff I don't need.

Perhaps what we are all in need most of is a clearing out.  Rather than an accumulation of.

Isn't that what meditation is supposed to teach us?  Isn't that the whole point of getting to the end of an intense yoga class.  The svanasana.  Where you let it all go, clear your thoughts and it's just you and your breath.

Yes please.  More of that.

This holiday season I don't have a list.  I just want less.  
And the gifts I'm giving?  I'm trying to make those the kind that are practical, and useful.  Spoiler alert:  This year you're getting a hug.  And maybe some homemade bath salts.

And (wink, wink) maybe your gifts to others could be useful too.  Yoga perhaps? (I happen to know someone who does that...)

In the meantime, I'll be over here in the corner just breathing and smiling and feeling absolutely content with the world.  (My laptop is on, there's stuff in my cart...)