As we round out 2018, this is the definitive gift guide for the silly season !
Christmas crunch got you feeling grinchy ? Lists and menus got you feeling down ? Mall rush sucked the joy from your lungs ? Well I have got the perfect post to shift your Christmas funk....Welcome to my handy-dandy-do-something-nice-for-yourself-list-2018-edition.
THINGS YOU COULD DO IF MONEY IS TIGHT
Say no to things and don’t feel guilty. If anyone questions you, tell them I gave you permission. You are allowed to say ‘nah’ and that be final.
If you’re stuck out there in traffic, let people in. We don’t have to get sucked into the Christmas hype/stress vortex.
Take some time to call your old people. Listen to the same story 50 times. One day you won’t be able to do that any more and you’ll really bloody miss it.
Check in with solo people. Make sure they have a place to go on Christmas. Invite them over. Text them to let them know you’re thinking of them. Everyone likes to know they’re loved.
Remember the people who will be spending their first Christmas missing someone they love. Be awkward and ask about it so there’s room for them to tell you if they want to. There’s no handbook, but I’ve found in life being an awkward creep is often better than saying nothing at all.
Donate your time to people. Parents who need someone to watch the kids for three hours whilst they brave the outside world. A cup of tea with someone who needs to complain a bit. Volunteering at the city mission. Time feels precious right now, but it’s a good trade.
Put your phone down and be there with the people you’re with. I can say this because I am often the actual worst at it, but it’s a worthwhile habit to foster.
THINGS YOU COULD DO IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONEY
Take the children of solo parents out to buy something for their parent. A little surprise. Chances are no one else has.
Donate money to the city mission https://secure.fundraiserpro.com/Donate/AucklandCityMission/
Donate money to Doctors Without Borders https://www.msf.org.nz/donate-now
Donate to women’s refuge www.awrefuge.org.nz/donate.htm
Donate to everybody eats https://www.everybodyeats.nz/donate/
Donate to laundry and showers for the homeless https://orangesky.org.nz/donate/
There are plenty of not for profit organisations who are literally desperate for monetary donations at this time of the year (and all year) - find them and splash out ! You can pick the ones that align best with your interests/politics/religion, just donate.
Add any extra things you think of below, and let’s have ourselves a merry little Christmas time !
Lots of Love,
Kayleigh x
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