GiST #20

Today:

1. It seems a small thing but it means so much to hear that I've grown and made positive changes. I often feel like I'm the same, still have so much to learn. It's true, but I really have made some changes--it's noticeable to someone else!

2. There is power in the realization that I am not a victim--I am not at the mercy of others' approval. I am not the same as everyone but it's okay to be different. I don't have to be in a clique or a group to belong.

3. Truth be told, it's kind of fun to "march to the beat of a different drummer" once I've convinced myself I don't have to fit in with the crowd.

4. I found another station that is playing Christmas music 24/7!

5. We drew names (among our immediate family) for "Secret Santa". This is a wonderful way for everyone to have a gift and no one will go broke. The kids are all happy--the pressure is off to try and scrape up money to get a gift for everyone. The same is true for us, the parents.

It's funny ... we know that Christmas is not about presents. It's about the celebration of the birth of Christ, about family, being together and about love. Yet how deeply the commercialization has rooted itself! Each of us has felt miserable that there isn't enough money to buy gifts for everyone. The kids have been gloom-and-doom about it and even I--who was telling myself it's not the gifts that count, it's the love--was feeling sad and frustrated.

So there will be five gifts, one for each of us, and we will be happy and not flat out can't pay the bills broke. I think this will make a much happier day for us than if we decided to blow off the phone company or mortgage company for the month.

Yay, us! A step in the right direction!