now,  I’m not one to be a proponent of physical materialism, the endless pursuit of “more stuff,” yet let’s face it, it happens to all of us.

so my recommendation? Shop with gratitude, and an open mind. It’s just like that Pier One commercial that says, “buy what speaks to you.” A product calling out to you that you just feel like you’ve never tried before? Splurge! Your mother tells you not to get that brand of dish soap? Sneak back in to the store after you’ve gone home and add it to your purchases. Shopping can almost be a spiritual activity, if you do it the right way. It’s the favorite past time of capitalist societies, and may we all enjoy it with the utmost gratitude, joy and faith.

You didn’t work all of those hard hours at the office for nothing, so why not treat yourself to something new? Try a store you’ve never been in before, get a recommendation for a friend, keep up with the latest fashion trends online, but don’t go overboard. Don’t have a lot of money to spend this holiday season? Shop with gratitude at your local thrift stores and discount stores; you never know when you might find a vintage Ann Klein sweater for $5 on the racks. There are great buys everywhere, and they don’t always have to be high priced. It’s all about your attitude this holiday season; why not have an attitude of joy and gratitude this year, instead of a feeling of lack? Being grateful for the things you do buy in an almost Buddhist, mindful way can almost be a spiritual practice, once again. Get high off of spending those hard earned dollars, yet keep your Center and roots in mind. Staying grounded in the holiday season is always hard, yet when you shop with an open heart and an open mind, beautiful things can happen.

I’ve gotten an ecstatic high just from spending $10 at the local dollar store, just because I picked out my purchases with gratitude and joy, and only got what I felt like I truly needed. Want to buy it all? Put everything in your cart and then minimize your selection when you go up to the counter. For example, do you really need three lip glosses, or only the top one in your favorite packaging? Do you really need TV’s in every room in your house, or do you want to make one room a library with vintage $5  wooden bookcases from Goodwill?

Anyway, carry on this holiday season in joy, and don’t forget to shop with a compassionate heart, an open mind, and a scintillating wallet. ?

ps. Don’t have any money to spend on gifts for yourself or others? Snail mail is key. Just a handwritten note with your writing in it can do a whole lot of good for your family and friends. Don’t forget to write a note to yourself at some point on the in the future, so you can read it later on a different holiday and see just how far you’ve come. Namaste.