Finding presence amid the Christmas presents

By Debra Donohue, Creating Connection Director

I remember a Christmas when I was a teenager, living with my dad. It was our first Christmas since my parents had split up, and I wanted to make it special for the two of us.

Like many people, I found that between school and work, most of my Christmas shopping ended up happening on Christmas Eve. Brentwood Mall was open until 6:00 p.m. that night, and I was one of the last people to leave. I took the bus home, planning to wrap all the gifts and stocking stuffers after my dad went to bed so I could surprise him in the morning.

That year, my dad and I began a tradition of staying up late to watch A Christmas Carol, starring Alastair Sim. It became something we looked forward to and carried on every year.

Eventually, my dad went to bed, and I started wrapping. By 2:00 a.m. I was still going, and the individual stocking stuffers took so long that by 3:00 a.m. I made myself a promise: I would never leave my Christmas shopping and wrapping until Christmas Eve again. In fact, for the past 45 years, I’ve had all—or most—of my shopping and wrapping finished by December 1.

I know that finishing everything by December 1 isn’t realistic for most people. So if you’re still looking for a meaningful gift for a friend or loved one, may I suggest something a little different: one of our upcoming Nurturing Spirit Retreats in 2026.

One option is Spiritual Life Writing, an online retreat taking place January 24–25. Because it’s online, this gift can be shared with anyone, anywhere. The cost is $75 CAD.

Another opportunity is Connecting to Spirit Through Creativity, an in-person retreat held February 27–March 1 at Samish Island Retreat Centre. This retreat features gifted facilitators and a beautiful natural setting, with a cost of $250 CAD, which includes all meals, accommodations, snacks, and session supplies.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me at [email protected]

If I’ve learned anything from that first Christmas on our own, it’s that the traditions we carry matter — often more than the gifts themselves. My dad passed away in the 1990s, but I consider myself fortunate to have created two meaningful traditions during that first Christmas on our own: I never leave my Christmas shopping and wrapping to the last minute, and every Christmas Eve, I watch A Christmas Carol starring Alastair Sim, imagining my dad sitting in front of the TV with me.