For those wondering — yes, I skipped posting anything about Black Friday or Cyber Monday. I sat down a couple of times to write about the holiday season, and both drafts turned into a rant about the pressures, waste, and general chaos this time of year brings. I’m sure I’m not alone there, but I decided to leave that in the journal and come back with clearer headspace.
As the title suggests, I’m convinced the best gift we can offer this year is our presence.
We don’t need to keep buying things that fade into irrelevance. Let’s give that idea a rest. It chips away at us more than we realize. Yes, some people genuinely love gifting, but I’d argue that time spent together will always hold more value.
Christmas marketing now starts at Halloween, so what if we started the season then too — not by shopping, but by planning meaningful time with the people we care about? Too often we let life get in the way, and then when we finally come together, we talk about how busy we’ve become. Maybe shifting our focus earlier could sweeten the last two months of the year, filling them with gatherings that actually make us feel whole.
This could be as simple as making someone your favorite meal. I’ve taken over lasagna duties for our family Christmas dinner. At first it was just fun to make something we could all enjoy. Now, I find myself hunting for the best ingredients and savoring the moments we share around the table, swapping old stories. That kind of giving fills everyone up.
Another idea: think about the playdates we had as kids. We lose that as adults, but we can translate it into a walk, hike, or bike ride. For some groups, it might become a pickup basketball game or a jam session. Anything that gets you moving or creating together amps up the joy. Just choose what fits the people you’re with.
At the end of the day, the activity doesn’t matter. Your presence does. Be there for the people you love. Create the memories.
Trade in a bit of your shopping time for gatherings. And when you do, disconnect from your devices as much as possible. No one will leave with something new in their hands, but everyone walks away with a richer life.
In the end, that’s what counts.
