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December 2007
Regional News
East Bay Making the Most of the December Almost every culture (and religion) has a winter solstice holiday that celebrates light and brings together family and friends in a celebration of interdependency and connectedness. For interfaith families, December can be a challenging month. Christmas looms large. If you love it or hate it, it can become a monster for your relationship. This is the time of year that everyone is susceptible to the blues. We’re supposed to be happy and be invited to lots of parties, buy and receive perfect gifts and wear a grin all day. The reality may be different. Look for the good things that make you happy. Try to back off on the trouble spots and delight in the company of your loved ones. Additionally, if you have kids, the surfeit of gifts may be generating a season of greed. As parents you have the right (and responsibility) to turn the month into a time of joy. You can limit the number of gifts, put some away for a later month, or find other ways to put the brakes on. If your child doesn’t really need another stuffed animal or that fourth box of paints, it’s fine to give them to one of the many gift collection organizations that serve the needy. When your kids are all grown up and come home for the holidays, they won’t be coming because they remember the material gifts they got, they’ll be returning to relive the spiritual gifts you gave them – love, acceptance and laughter. All of that is free and no one has a limited supply. Dawn Kepler
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