Christmas Consderations

For Christmas this year I got:

-A Garmin 200W (GPS Navigation System)
-A carrying case for it
-2 tickets to the Seattle Symphony
-Starbucks card
-A Paint-Your-Own tie kit thing
-A color changing light up little 6 inch tree
-A pocket US Constitution
-one of the PostSecret books
-a really nice jacket
-a really nice scarf
-The Nightmare Before Christmas DVD
-a framed scrapbook thing of my childhood


I really love everything I got and am quite happy with all of it. I didn't make a list to show how spoiled I am or anything, but just to take a visual inventory. During December, I would get asked, "What do you want for Christmas?" quite a bit. I never really answered because I honestly couldn't think of anything I needed.

My Mom suggested earlier in the month that we should all try to shop for less than $5 a person. That way $25 would be spent on each person. I was enthusiastic about it but no one else really jumped. Then my Dad told me that Santa was going to bring less than he has in the past ("only" about $250 a person). Only $250?! Santa felt bad for being "sparse" this year, and I just have to take a moment and pick my jaw up off the floor when I think about that.

I live in such excess it is a little appalling. I honestly would have been perfectly content seeing how creative everyone could get for $5 or $10. It would be so fun! And while I again love all the gifts I got this year, I really didn't need any of it, and considering my father's financial situation he probably didn't need to be spending that much...

Another example of the excess I live in. When I flew back to Utah after spending the summer in New York, I didn't have enough room in my bags for all my stuff, so I left a box with various items in it to be mailed to me. Through a series of complicated and unimportant events, I didn't get that box until last week (4 months after leaving NY). I remembered that my hair cutting set, athletic shoes, and knitting needles were contained in that box because I missed them during the semester, but honestly forgot about everything else. So when my belongings were finally returned to me (I got them on Christmas Eve) it was like an early Christmas! I had forgotten about so many of the things I own. It really just goes to show that they are not necessities and I can survive without them quite comfortably.



New Year's Resolution: Become more of a minimalist.


Relevant music:

Me!

I never know where to start and always want my blog posts to be perfectly polished. This phenomena usually leads to a lessening of my posting quantities, so I’m trying to just let is go and jump right in. Here goes…


I am Tommy, and this is my blog. It is my space where I can say anything and everything I want. Graciously, I am letting you all read it too!

This is me in 56 bullets. I have more but ran out of motivation to write them.

1. I remember people I meet by what they wear. It makes it difficult to remember them the second time.
2. I am a stable 145 lbs.
3. I want to travel the world.
4. I value honesty above all else.
5. I fear snakes.
6. I have a very level head.
7. I love classical music.
8. My first love was Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins.
9. I am an A student.
10. I want to make a difference.
11. I value correct motivations.
12. I fear heights.
13. I have obsessive tendencies.
14. I love to drive.
15. I think the Pieta is one of the most beautiful things in the world.
16. I am Mormon/LDS.
17. I want children.
18. I value the opinions of others.
19. I fear being wrong.
20. I have no athletic talent.
21. I love spontaneity and adventure.
22. I understand why people commit suicide.
24. I want to be loved.
25. I value people who honor their principles.
26. I fear being alone.
27. I have great compassion.
28. I love the holidays.
29. I seriously doubt myself sometimes.
30. I am a cyclist.
31. I want to find my true love.
32. I value the efforts of others.
33. I fear hurting someone.
34. I have faith in many things.
35. I love the rain.
36. I trust it will all be worth it in the end.
37. I am single (currently).
38. I want to be a virtuoso pianist.
39. I value my friends.
40. I have excellent friends.
41. I fear the future sometimes.
42. I love the ocean.
43. I was an insecure child.
44. I am sincere.
45. I want to be financially comfortable.
46. I value prayer.
47. I fear the past.
48. I have a great family.
49. I love cleanliness, but don’t mind clutter.
50. I relate to so many post secrets.
51. I am from Anacortes, WA.
52. I want a greater knowledge of classic art, film, and literature.
53. I value my own self worth.
54. I fear large bodies of water.
55. I have lot to give and can’t seem to find where to give it.