I love Xmas, but I hate gifts

10 Dec 2010 news 0 Comments

“Hate” is a strong word, but a few years ago I really did ask people to stop giving me gifts.  Among my family members, that didn’t go over so well and I still have lovely people in my life who just can’t seem to honor my request.  It’s the holidays, and people get caught up in the rush to shop and wrap and squeal with delight as all their wishes are fulfilled.  Some people only give in order to get, but others truly have a genuine impulse to share.  But the truth is, many of the gifts we receive miss the mark, right?  Giving a gift card is one way to avoid disappointing a friend, but there are other alternatives to consider:

1. Donate to a deserving non-profit on your loved one’s behalf.  My favorites include Unicef, Heifer, and NYC-based literacy org Behind the Book.  They send me into classrooms to conduct writing workshops, they buy EVERY child in the class a brand new copy of my book, and they publish anthologies of the students’ work.  You can learn more about my latest visit here.  Think about it, folks—what’s worth more?  A leopard-print Snuggie or giving a child the chance to meet a real live author for the very first time?

2. Support your local bookstore—buy books!  As Doret pointed out, a personalized message in a book means a lot to avid readers; you can get signed copies of books by me, Rita Williams-Garcia, Kekla Magoon, and Christopher Grant at the holiday book party at Daddy’s Basement Bookstore here in Brooklyn.  I’m giving a few people The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by NK Jemisin because that book blew my mind earlier this year; the companion book, The Broken Kingdoms, is out now (both are affordable paperbacks) AND the author shared the exciting news that she’s got a new series coming soon!  Introduce someone you love to an author that they might not discover on their own…

Lift Every Voice and Sing cards by Shadra Strickland

3. Support artists and artisans—check out Etsy, go to a holiday street market, visit the website of your favorite children’s book illustrator and buy a print or some greeting cards (amazing art can be found at the websites of Shadra Strickland, Gregory Christie, Jesse Joshua Watson).  Or get out the glue/yarn/glitter and make something YOURSELF!  Whatever you make is sure to be one-of-a-kind…

4. BAKE! I love my cousin’s jam and would be thrilled if that’s all I ever got for the rest of my life.  I’m not particularly skilled in the kitchen, but I do bake cookies for the holidays and that’s what everyone nearby gets as a gift.  I use all the old takeout containers in my cupboard and folks can indulge (eat all the cookies themselves) or share (take to your work party, offer to guests, etc.).  Within days, all traces of my gift are GONE.  I hate “stuff”—useless stuff that I’d never buy for myself but which I wind up storing in my apartment because I feel guilty giving it away.  I am not a collector of ANYTHING; I’ve learned to admire things without feeling the need to possess them myself.  When you bake (or make candles, or whip up handmade lotion) you’re giving GREEN.  Minimal footprint, maximum joy!

5. Support your local library—pay up those late fees, donate books (if they accept them), and/or write a check so the library can continue to serve all the members of your community.  What a great gift!  The Brooklyn Public Library has a fund-raising campaign on right now—you can donate here.

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