Sound Off: Living in a Material World

Christmastime is a cheerful time, but it's hard to ignore the rampant materialism.

There is a dark side of Christmas that we all know about, but rarely talk about. It’s our shared sense of materialism. Even for the skeptics who insist otherwise, we can’t help ourselves when we step into a crowded mall adorned with flamboyant lights, complete with bustling, animated shoppers. Sure, we all buy into the commercialization of Christmas, but what I’ve found of late is how much we’ve taken that materialism to heart.

How many times have you heard of a friend complaining of having received a less-than-satisfactory gift? It’s all too easy to have high expectations when our holidays are centred upon the objects of Christmas, which ironically destroys the message of Christmas altogether. Commercials and sales during this time don’t help much either. When you’re on the hunt for the perfect gift for the perfect holiday, there can simply be no sense of fulfillment. Do we feel any more fulfilled when we purchase the latest iPhone for a family member? Most likely, we end up having higher expectations for the return gift, which makes this a frivolous holiday indeed!

So how can we end this cycle of expectation and disappointment? For one, changing our vision of a perfect Christmas is the first step to overcoming the materialistic aspects of Christmas. A focus on meaningful gifts rather than excessive gifts not only changes our perception on buying the most, owning the most and wasting the most, but it is the only choice for an ideal holiday. In fact, regardless of who you are, your ultimate goal is creating memories. Memories are priceless and your gifts should be the same.