Before You Buy Another Thing…
Hi love,
Something has been sitting heavy on my heart this season, and it’s only getting louder.
Between the Palisades fires last January (with several friends losing their homes) and attending Shira Gill’s talk on minimalism two days later… it felt like the universe was underlining the same sentence over and over:
We already have too much stuff.
And we keep buying more.
Our homes are full.
Our lives are full.
Our minds are full.
It came up again at my retreat a few weeks ago.
Multiple moms told me, almost word for word (and in tears), “I do not want to get sucked into the materialism of the holidays this year.”
They didn’t want to teach their kids to crave more toys, more junk, more dopamine hits of “new, new, new”… only to watch half of it go untouched by February.
What they were craving was something entirely different:
~ Gratitude
~ Simplicity
~ Experiences
~ Presence
~ Relief from the pressure to perform holiday perfection
And honestly? Yes. Same. More of that.
It feels like our whole culture (and social media feeds, advertisements, etc) is caught in this loop:
Stress → buy → wrap → unwrap → one moment of excitement → forget → repeat.
So this season, instead of piling on more, I’m inviting myself, my husband, and all of us, to pause.
To choose intentional gifts.
To choose fewer things, but better things.
Or maybe… no things at all.
Is this harder? Fuck yes it is. It would be so easy to just click "buy now."
But is it worth it? Absolutely. Every single time.
Here are some ideas that feel GOOD this year:
~ Experiences (a sports game, adventure park, YES-day playdate, scavenger hunt, painting/cooking/sports class)
~ Items someone actually needs for an upcoming trip or sport
~ Framing a picture or making a photo book with moments that make you smile
~ A night away for yourself (books, journals, movies, pajamas 24/7, room service... really just nobody needing anything)
~ A class, sound-bath, massage, or retreat to look forward to
This isn’t about deprivation or being anti-gift.
It’s about being intentional and choosing what really matters.
What if this holiday you bought fewer things… but they mattered more?
What if you gave your kids less clutter… and more connection?
What if you gifted yourself rest, space, and sanity? (and maybe even monthly? Check out my PPS below).
I have a feeling something really beautiful could open up.
More soon on some creative ways to do that.
With love,
Abbey ✨
PS: Just keeping it real: I moved our elf at 1am last night. Radical intention is a journey… and apparently, we are deeply committed to keeping the magic alive (I mean, the unbridled joy in the morning after that move is pretty damn special). 😄
PPS: If you are interested in having a gift that gives all year long, check out Annie and my Root + Rise Monthly Circle. One hour, once/month to take a pause, relax your body and mind, and drop into your heart to see what's here for you now.
PPS: I’d genuinely love to hear from you. What intentional gifting ideas are you considering this year? Hit reply and share. Your creativity might inspire someone else in our community. ✨
PPPS: Anyone else follow this amazing mama keeping it real? Her last few lines are friggin GOLD.