Who doesn’t enjoy opening a gift during the holidays? There’s a certain joy in receiving something thoughtful or something you might not have chosen for yourself. Over the years, though, my family and I began to notice that while we appreciated those gestures, what we found ourselves valuing most wasn’t anything that could be wrapped. What we were truly longing for was simply the chance to be together.
In recent years, we’ve made a conscious choice: our presence would be our present. Like many families, we had often fallen into the material rhythm of the season, like buying things we didn’t really need, holding onto items out of obligation (especially when they came from Grandma), and feeling the pressure to find the “perfect” gift. It’s a familiar cycle, and it can turn what should be a meaningful time into one filled with stress, financial strain, and expectations that are hard to meet.
This is your gentle reminder that the holidays don’t have to be defined by overflowing shopping bags or perfectly tied bows. The season can be deeply meaningful without expensive presents or grand gestures.
In my own family, it’s rare for all of us to be in the same place at the same time. Opposing schedules, responsibilities, and the busyness of everyday life often pull us in different directions. That’s why the one thing we all want, yet can’t simply buy, is time together. So, instead of material things, we have been planning activities to do together! Board game nights, cookie decorating, Christmas markets, and some less “festive” but fun options like laser tag and Activate!
This holiday season, I encourage you to reflect on what presents might look like for you: slow moments, shared conversations, laughter, or simply being near the people who ground you. These are the gifts we remember and cherish most of all.
Kimberly Stainthorpe
M.A. Counselling Psychology
