Things That Make Us Happy, and Gift Giving This Season

Today, I was driving back home, after getting my winter tires put on the van, listening to Q, with Jian Gomeshi. He was presenting the panel for next year's Canada Reads competition. I was grinning from ear to ear while listening to the banter between the host, and the panelists. I cannot exactly put it in words, and if I were to describe the conversations to someone else, they would wonder why I was so amused. It just pleased me, listening to these people talk, and poke fun of each other, and themselves.

I don't know about you, but I love listening to quite a few CBC Radio programs. I find them engaging, interesting, illuminating, and entertaining. The problem with listening to the radio, much like reading, is that you cannot do anything else while you are listening. Actually, this it not entirely true. With radio in vehicles, and podcasts, you can listen to the radio while driving, or doing some physical task which does not require your undivided attention, like exercise, house cleaning, or sewing. You can't really knit, and read at the same time.

Radio feels so intimate. I often feel like I am right there, listening to the interview. I feel as though these people are doing the show, just for me. This feeling is certainly amplified if I am listening on my own, or on my iPod. I have to check myself, and realize there are thousands of people hearing the same thing as me, and perhaps having a similar reaction. Regardless, I was grinning like a fool in my van this morning.

Someone told me recently we don't smile, or laugh as much as we used to. I am trying to find things that make me happy. Being happy is so much better than not. I spent the morning, by myself being quite contemplative. I was buying things for my children's advent calendar, and thinking about gift giving during the holidays. My kids are happy when they get things. Sometimes, they are happy when they give things, but I think I am happier when I give them things, than they wound be giving. But, they don't really need more things. Even the books we buy, which are engaging, and educational, are not necessary. I go to the library every three weeks. We don't need to buy books.

I like making things too, but we do not have too many people we exchange with. Right now, it is limited to immediate family. Both my mom, and my mother in-law do their own baking for the holidays. I would love to do some baking, but the last time I did, no one ate my stuff because they already had their staples.

I want to make homemade gifts, but I do not have enough people to give gifts to. Last year, I made felt mice for my daughter's class. I might have to come up with another cute little decoration for her to give this year. I am also thinking of making homemade marshmallows. Food is a tough thing to give, because there is always the risk of allergies, or you are not sure how thrilled people are to receive unwholesome food. I find people nowadays are so paranoid about eating sweets, and rich foods, it makes giving food gift a challenge.

For now, I think I will finish the felt penguins I started last year. I got sidetracked, and made a bunch of bird ornaments instead, as well as the felt mice. I have also decided to make my daughter a Velcro "cache-cou", neck-warmer, because I have all this fleece left over from the Halloween costumes. I do not feel like paying $5 for a neck-warmer when I can copy my son's, and make a new one for my daughter. Just wondering how to attach the Velcro, but I am sure to come up with a solution.

Meanwhile, I will continue to get my grin on, and listen to more CBC Radio. Love it!

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/

 

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