While cleaning up after the Stillwaters Used Book Sale, (yes, it went well and we raised $7,000 – thanks for asking) I came across the little novel, “Skipping Christmas,” by John Grisham. I decided it was time to re-read this book that I often recommend to others.

The book tells the story of a couple whose only child has left for a Peace Corps assignment just after Thanksgiving. They are “empty-nesters” for the holidays. They are both a little depressed about it. When the fellow figures out that they normally spend about $6,000 on gifts, parties, cards and more, they decide to “skip Christmas,” instead using the money to go on a vacation.

The rest of the novel reveals all the responses they get from friends, neighbors, work colleagues and others who are either envious, angry, or bewildered. It’s a thought-provoking look at our attitudes toward the societal norms surrounding the holidays.

Most of us, at one time or another, have thought about holidays and dreaded them entirely, or at least dreaded some aspect. The fall/winter holidays are one of the most stressful times of the year for a great many people, which is reflected in more deaths just before or just after the holidays. But they don’t have to be so stressful.

We have skipped Thanksgiving many times, opting to go to Canada for a little vacation, where no one is eating turkey at all. It’s really quite pleasant! But that’s a holiday mostly focused on one big dinner. Not as big of a production as the big December one.

Now there are parts of Christmas that I really like, but parts that are stressful to almost all of us. What is hard for all of us is sorting that out and figuring out what causes all that stress.

I am stressed by anything that depletes resources beyond reason. Those resources can be my own or they can be resources of the Earth. My own resources are stressed when we spend more than we can afford on gifts, food for parties, going out, decorations, or travel. All of these are easy to do this time of year, aren’t they? It is so very easy to get carried away in the spirit of giving and trying to make it the best holiday ever. The advertising blitz surely doesn’t help!

Then there is the concern for conserving the Earth’s resources. This is getting a little easier with more of a “green” conscious society offering recycled papers and LED light strands. But I do still wonder about all the cut greens and trees, people driving and flying everywhere, food brought in from all over the world, and food thrown away. Lots to pay attention to here.

The biggest thing I think we can all do to conserve Earth’s resources is to pay attention to the gifts we give. Think about it. Every clever or pretty item you find at a department store took Earth’s resources to make and even more of Earth’s resources to ship to the store. So, if you are going to support the consumption of those resources, please be sure they are truly needed and will be well-used.

If you want to give your Aunt Martha a gift, but you really can’t think of anything she needs, don’t just give up and get her something you know she doesn’t need! A gift card for the local grocer would be a better bet! Maybe a cool, used something from a thrift shop? Or maybe she’d like something from you – like getting her lawn mowed?

And if it is just too stressful for you to think of Earth-friendly gifts, decorations and activities that don’t drain all your resources, then don’t – just skip the holiday stress. Do what makes you feel good, like visiting with your friends and relatives and taking it easy. Maybe take a little vacation or spend the day at the beach. The Earth will probably be better off, too.

— Naomi Maasberg is director of Stillwaters Environmental Learning Center. Contact her at  naomi@stillwatersenvironmentalcenter.org.