And just like that, we’ve reached the end of another term, and this time, another year. It’s been a fabulous few weeks as we’ve really leant into the seasonal spirit across all our sessions and sites with festive crafts, winter celebrations and campfire cooked feasts. The excitement has been mounting and as our final sessions take place today, we wish all of the families we work with and all of our colleagues, a fantastic few weeks off.
We were looking back through our previous musings at this time of year and came across one from a few years back where we reflected on the fact that for many folk, this time of year can actually be rather challenging. We acknowledged that for some, they won’t be looking forward to the next few weeks so eagerly and explained that “this could because they’re grieving this year, it could be because they’re going through a painful separation, it could be because they’re struggling with your mental or physical health, it could be because of the cost of living and energy crisis, it could be because of how past Christmases have played out for them.”
The observation about the cost of living particularly resonated with us this year, knowing how many families are struggling to make ends meet and knowing how many more food banks there are compared to just a few years ago. We’ve seen toy donations increase and are so aware that sadly, for many people, this time of the year will bring more stress than joy due to financial issues.
But we just wanted to take this opportunity to remind you that people are what really matter, not stuff. Spending time with the people you love, nurturing those connections that are important to you, and finding ways to express that love and gratitude for those around you is what really makes an impact in our lives and communities. Now, we know that when it comes to children, it’s not always that easy. No one wants to disappoint their kids at Christmas but perhaps there are ways to adjust their expectations or compromises we can make to ensure that this time of year doesn’t bring financial stress and unhappiness.
Maybe that’s buying toys (where you can) second hand, maybe that’s buying one present less for them, perhaps it’s making an agreement with wider families to just buy for the children, perhaps it’s making handmade gifts for the adults in your life or promising them a lush experience later in the year.
We think you’d be surprised by how accepting your loved ones might be if you’re honest about your capacity and what you can offer, in fact – you might find others around you being relieved to start having these kinds of conversations!
The people that care about you want you to enjoy this period, not be worried or stretching yourself too thin. And let’s face it, most of us don’t remember a lot of the physical gifts we receive – they are either unneeded, consumed and forgotten or just a token gesture that someone felt obliged to make.
What matters is connection and our communities. What matters is looking after each other, finding joy together, laughing together, deepening our relationships and sharing experiences together.
So, this year, if you’re looking at the list of things still to get perhaps take a moment to reassess if you really need to get it all. Be kind to yourself, make things cheaper and simpler if you can.
Presence is what matters, not presents.
Author: Hannah Durdin, Content Officer & Forest School Leader
Date: Friday 20th December 2024
Copyright © Outdoors Group Ltd 2021. All Rights Reserved.
Registered Office: The Outdoors Group, Western Lodge, Crediton, Devon, EX17 3NH. Company number 10755829
Terms & Conditions / Website Terms / Privacy Policy / Sitemap / Built with ♥ by Solve
