Juliet
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Christmas Ain't What It Used to Be
I enjoyed your column, John, as well as the comment from christianbrokenman. I, too, lament the excessive materialism in our society, especially this time of year. There are actually more of us out there than you realize. But if we stick together we can get through the month! I avoid shopping malls in general, but during November and December it's imperative. I don't look at ads, catalogs, and other mailers. I also decide how I want to celebrate the season: meditation/ prayer, cards to loved ones, tasteful decorations, etc. I refuse to let others, especially the marketing types, dictate how I spend my time and money. I can't dictate to others (nor do I want to) how to spend the holidays, but I can certainly be an example of peace, love and beauty. May our light shine in the darkness.— December 22, 2010 9:16 a.m.