Hey everyone,
I hope you’re all well and managing to enjoy the run-up to Christmas and the New Year.
I’ve been wanting to share something with you for a few weeks now because I know I'm not the only one who finds this time of year extremely tough.
Where to start...
I'll start with Mr Grinch.
And our similarities...
No I'm not a mean one.
If I’m being completely honest though, I have definitely grown quite Grinchy over the years. The pressures of gift-giving, squeezing as much socialising in as possible before the new year, and the spending of money we don't have, can turn into utter insanity and I heavily dislike feeling like I have no choice but to participate in the madness.
Yet ive found historically within my circle that it seems preferable to continue in this state of things rather than pick the option of choosing a better way for us all to connect, relax, and enjoy our time together. Its probably because the concept of change is scary, as if we might ruin everyones lives or be shunned by our consumer society if we dared to suggest secret santa instead for the family this year, or gifts just for the kids. For me, this period also often highlights how little I know some people, and vice versa, even family members and this makes me sad.
Aside from the grinchy side of me, there is also the side that struggles with the cold and dark days, always being ill at this time, and the fact that Christmas is when my dad passed away a few years back. Wow I sound like a ray of SAD lamp sunshine don't I. 😊
This year I decided things needed to change. 'Change' I tell you!!
That's right folks, back in October, I made a plan: I was going to make 99% of my gifts this year. I told myself, “Everyone will just need to accept it as I have no money”, and I have stuck to it. I bought a few balls of yarn and some kraft card and I’ve:
Crocheted 22 gifts for my family and boyfriend's family (what they are is still a surprise—I can’t believe I’ve kept the secret!).
Created 20 gift boxes and a few gift bags with inspiration from Pinterest.
Made my own Christmas decorations and even started a cardboard gingerbread house last night!
Customised Christmas cards, writing heartfelt messages and one-liners to add a personal touch.
And you know what?
You know what?!
I’ve really, really enjoyed myself. :)
It’s been such a joyful, stress-free, and creative time. I’ve spent time thinking about each person - what they love, their favorite colors, their personality.
Yes, I’ve had moments of insecurity...
“What if they don’t like it?”...
"What if they make fun of me?"...
"What if they all beg me never to do this again?!"...
But I’ve realised it’s okay. If my gifts get re-gifted, donated, or the yarn unraveled and reused, I’m fine with that. I'm sure someone will find a use for them. For me, the process itself has been worth it and it hasn't put me further out of pocket either.
Why am I sharing this?
Well, im sharing because this has helped my mental health so much this last few months and has been a new experience for me and all my loved ones. I want to encourage you to give this a try next Christmas or even for birthdays! You don’t have to be a natural "maker" to create something meaningful. It could be anything:
A drawing, a handwritten story, or a photo
A batch of baked treats or a personalised decoration
A mixtape (yes, people still love them!)
A thoughtful walking trail or a small piece of upcycled furniture
The point isn’t how polished or perfect the gift is. It's not about it being expensive or in line with the latest trends. It's about the time, effort, and love that goes into creating something special.
Fantastic platforms like Pinterest can provide clips, tips, and guides on how others have made things so you don't have to spend time trying to figure it out. I love Pinterest.
This Christmas has already brought many funny moments with family when asking for and them giving me their measurements for the gifts. There’s been anticipation, curiosity, and jokes galore - without feeling the need to overspend, scramble for ideas, AND try to manage my mental health at the same time.
If any of this resonates with you at all, I’d love to hear if you’ve done something similar or are inspired to give it a go.
There are so many inspiring stories out there about people who are trying to find a better way. Lately, I've been listening to audiobooks about simple living (A year of living simply by Kate Humble), reading magazines about makers all over the world (We Are Makers by Kate and Jack Lennie), and following people or tags on Instagram who talk about green living and being kind
It's been a wonderful tonic throughout these dark days and makes me want to do better and help effect change in these areas.
Let’s reimagine what gift-giving can be.
Thank you for reading.
L x
Ps. After I wrote this, I watched The Grinch with Jim Carey and laughed when I realised that I am so the Grinch (but not mean or green or that hairy and I love people). Im also like Cindy Lou Who, seeing all the Whos live chaotically as they get ready for Christmas and are only focused on presents and having the best stuff. She tells her father that "She may do something drastic" as she plans on inviting the Grinch to be Cheermeister at the celebrations. The Grinch gives a huge speech before he flips out about how all gifts end up with him in the garbage.
"That's what it's all about, isn't it? That's what it's always been *about*. Gifts, gifts... gifts, gifts, gifts, gifts, gifts! You wanna know what happens to your gifts? They all come to me. In your garbage. You see what I'm saying? In your *garbage*. I could hang myself with all the bad Christmas neckties I found at the dump. And the avarice...The avarice never ends! I want golf clubs. I want diamonds. I want a pony so I can ride it twice, get bored and sell it to make GLUE!"
At the end they realise that it doesn't matter that the presents have been stolen because Cindy Lou was right and all they need is to be with family and friends to have a wonderful Christmas.
I love The Grinch :)
Merry Christmas everyone!
Take good care of yourselves and each other.
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