Look Beyond Your Purchase

The season of shopping has started and the holidays are just around the corner. I love the holidays but recently found myself fairly disgusted and the sale frenzy that happens. I went to Best Buy on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and saw two men camping in the rain waiting for the doors to open on Friday. A couple years ago they started opening up select stores at 1 and 2am on Black Friday. This year they started the sales on Thanksgiving day as early as 3pm. Luckily this year I didn't hear of anyone dying from being trampled but we all know it's happened before.

Some say it's in good fun, it's tradition or it's good for the economy. I agree to an extent but what happened to the value of the holidays themselves? When did it become about buying a bunch of material things that we don't need, sacrificing our days to camp outside of stores and trampling over human beings to get them?


Holidays are about being with family, friends, honoring the season and for a lot of people God. In yoga we are taught the five Yamas ( a series of "right living"/ethical rules)

 One being...

Aparigraha meaning non-attachment (non-grasping)/possessiveness or greed. 

Yes shopping can be fun and giving presents is fun too but it's important to evaluate what importance we are giving to material possessions and just how far we will go to get them. Are you opening credit cards, overcharging them or tapping into your savings account to purchase beyond your means? If so this is a good time to look within and see as to why. A lot of times we buy things to avoid or fill a void. Sometimes we even buy just to look good. I can speak to this as I have been guilty of all of things before.


I'm not saying don't spend money I'm just saying keep yourself in check and don't forget what this season is truly about. Take what you need and give what you can. Sometimes quality time and hug from you is all someone needs.

Happy Holidays & Namaste