Simplicity

Be Simple in Life, How Many things do you NEED?

Does wanting too much tend to Breed Greed?

Two Pairs of Shoes, Maybe Three. A Closet Full, for What?

Will that many shoes make you Finally Strut??

Isn't a Simple life the best, do we need to prove we are better than the rest?

Do family and friends matter the most, being present for the ones to whom we are close?

These lines are the first few lines that don my debut children's book, Truth, Simplicity, Gratitude, and Love. This book was inspired by a DEEP medicine ceremony that opened my eyes to the profound wisdom embedded in our everyday lives. The teachings I encountered during this transformative experience have shaped the core messages of the book, which emphasizes fundamental principles that we would ALL benefit from remembering and incorporating into our daily routines. It serves as a gentle reminder of the values that can help us navigate the complexities of modern life with grace and awareness.

I have spent the last few months immersing myself in the vibrant culture of a fairly large city in Mexico, where the streets are alive with color, sound, and the palpable energy of the people. As I walked these bustling streets in the weeks leading up to Christmas, I found myself deep in thought, reflecting on a significant question: WHY do people continue to mindlessly consume and celebrate this holiday season? It is a time traditionally associated with joy and togetherness, yet I noticed a stark contrast in the behaviors of many individuals. The relentless pursuit of material goods and the overwhelming pressure to participate in consumerism seemed to overshadow the true essence of the holiday spirit. This observation sparked a deeper inquiry into the motivations behind such actions and the impact they have on our well-being and the environment. The blog seeks to explore these themes, encouraging readers, both young and old, to engage in a meaningful dialogue about the importance of conscious living and the values of truth, simplicity, gratitude, and love that can enrich our lives and foster a more compassionate world.

Christmas, as we know it today, is a blend of pagan and Christian traditions. Its origins trace back to ancient pagan winter solstice celebrations, particularly the Roman Saturnalia and Mithra's birthday (Dec 25). Early Christianity did not focus on Jesus' birth, nor was he even born in December, prioritizing the Epiphany instead, which was April 6th. By the 4th century, December 25 was established as Christmas to align with and counteract pagan festivities. During the Middle Ages, local customs like the Yule log and Christmas tree emerged. The 18th and 19th centuries saw Christmas evolve into a family-oriented, gift-giving holiday, influenced by figures like Washington Irving and Charles Dickens. Puritans briefly outlawed it due to its pagan and Catholic ties.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, Christmas became commercialized and secularized, emphasizing consumerism and family gatherings over religious origins. This is what everyone celebrates today even if they think they are celebrating it for other reasons.

Here are some of the environmental impacts of celebrating this holiday, with a sprinkle of humor:

1. Wrapping Paper and Packaging: The Gift That Keeps on Giving... to Landfills!

The US produces an additional 25 million tons of garbage between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. That’s like wrapping your presents in a giant “Welcome to the Landfill” sign! Wrapping paper and packaging are the real Grinches here, stealing our joy and stuffing our trash cans.

2. Unwanted Gifts: The Real Holiday Mystery

Did you know that around 1 in 5 gifts will be unwanted? That’s right! If you’re giving someone a fruitcake, you might as well just hand them a ticket to the landfill. Up to 84% of people in the UK find gift buying so difficult that they resort to giving the infamous “What on Earth is This?” presents. It’s like playing a game of “Guess What I Regret!”

3. Carbon Footprint: A Holiday Travel Adventure

Holiday travel contributes to greenhouse gas emissions like a bad holiday movie contributes to eye rolls. Air travel is a significant source, making your family reunion feel more like a carbon convention. And let’s not even start on the energy consumption from those traditional incandescent lights. They’re like the holiday lights of doom, consuming energy faster than Aunt Edna consumes fruitcake!

4. Christmas Tree Farming: The Green Thumb’s Dilemma

Some Christmas tree farmers have a history of overusing pesticides and herbicides, which can turn our beloved trees into environmental villains. It’s like finding out your Christmas tree was on steroids the whole time. Let’s just hope they don’t start wearing capes!

5. Resource Extraction: The Great Tree Debate

Growing and harvesting real Christmas trees requires resources like water, pesticides, and transportation. Meanwhile, artificial trees are made of non-biodegradable materials like PVC, making them the holiday equivalent of a bad relationship—you can’t just throw them away! It’s a classic case of “pick your poison.”

6. Packaging and Manufacturing: The Cardboard Conundrum

Christmas cards are like the glittery invitations to pollution. The printing, packaging, and disposal have an environmental impact, with around 33% not being recycled due to contamination with glitter. Glitter: the herpes of the crafting world! It just won’t go away!

7. Land Use: The Tree Plantation Predicament

Before being cut down, Christmas trees are grown on land that might otherwise be used for something useful, like a taco truck or a community garden. Well-managed forests, including Christmas tree plantations, actually play a crucial role in solving climate issues. Who knew trees could be such overachievers?

To Mitigate the Environmental Impact of Christmas, Consider:

Not celebrating this silly Consummermas Holiday at all (or at least consider a low-key version).
Using reusable gift wrap or recyclable wrapping paper. Let’s make “wrap rage” a thing of the past!
Choosing energy-efficient LED lights. Your electric bill will thank you, and so will the planet!
Supporting sustainable and organic Christmas tree farming practices. Buy a tree that can be planted afterwards—let’s give it a second chance!
Reducing travel and carbon emissions. Teleportation is still in R&D, so maybe just carpool?
Avoiding single-use plastics and choosing eco-friendly toys. Remember, every plastic toy is a tiny reminder of our bad choices!
Recycling Christmas cards and packaging materials. Don’t let your cards become the next landfill celebrity!

By being mindful of these environmental implications, we can work towards a more sustainable and eco-friendly holiday season. Let’s save Santa’s sleigh from becoming a pollution machine and keep the planet merry and bright!