Minimalist Holiday

Here I am again, back in the same place I was last year, and the year before, and the year before that. Back in the "Oh, crud, it is the holidays and society says we are supposed to buy each other gifts." Usually, I make something for friends and family. Nothing big but definitely heartfelt. Generally it is something edible (or drinkable). Unfortunately, this year I have not had either the mental energy or the time to even think about gifts. Gifts are starting to roll in for me and my family and I am left with a sense of guilt that I am not doing more. I swear it is not that I am a miser!!! I just struggle so much with "stuff" that I don't want to foist "stuff" on other people. Now, I have bought gifts for my immediate family - but they are things that were requested or things I know are needed. When I find a gift that seems perfect, I will buy it. It is just that that rarely ever happens.

I have been getting a daily email from a website called, "Ideal Bite". Today's "bite" was about giving gifts to people who don't need anything. Here is the link: http://idealbite.com/tiplibrary/tip.php?tip=20061215&title=For_the_. I am not posting this to give ideas for me (really - I don't need anything!) but to give ideas for other people.

Any idea how I can label my link instead of just posting the link???

Hui Neng Quote

"Your treasure house is within;
It contains all you will ever need."
--Hui Neng

Would that I could live these words! Why is it we need so many things. Things, things, things...they keep coming into my home. Some by (buy) me. What am I thinking? (Am I thinking?) Is there a drive for external things to help us ignore what we can't see inside ourselves? Does that last sentence even make any sense???

My head hurts just thinking about this stuff!

It is Christmas time (is this one word?) which means that it is time to buy stuff for each other. My DH keeps asking me what I want for Christmas and I honestly can't think of a thing. I am supposed to go on a business trip in January for 2 nights. I can hardly imagine 2 nights by myself with no children calling me in the middle of the night. Ah, bliss. That is what I want for Christmas!!! Stuff...well, I don't think I need any stuff.

Halt Creation Halt

What I really wanted this blog to be called was "Too Much Stuff" but I someone already got that one. I have been wrestling with the concepts of "stuff" and "art" recently. Since I was young, I have been an artist. I have enjoyed jewelery making, pottery, sewing, and painting. Recently, though, I realized that I no longer wanted to create things anymore. Emphasis on the word "things". I have come to a "creation halt". Handmade things are wondrous but also carry baggage. What to do with all the pottery that was left over after I gave pottery to all my friends and family? What to do with the paintings left over from my big show? What to do with art other people have created for me? These are not things that can be parted with easily. Or at least I am not easily able to part with them.

You may be thinking as you read this...but she is creating something now! Yes, it is true, but writing a blog isn't a thing so in my mind I am safe.