Every year at this time, there it is—the prerequisite article about the commercialization of Christmas and why we should all feel guilty about too much—too much receiving, too much giving, too much indulging, too much shopping, too much eating, too much of everything.

Knock it off. Time to channel your inner Clark Griswold, his 250 strings of lights and invitation to cousin Eddie. At the very core of the Christmas is the concept of extravagant giving. This is the season of giving and receiving—not denying.

Now, as a white bred, protestant, practical sensible girl-always-on-a-budget, I have my own definition of excess. And that’s the point. Excess doesn’t have to equate to the amount of money spent; it just has to reflect the attitude you bring to the season.

My parents never spent a lot on presents because they didn’t have the money to spend. But at Christmas, we got to eat in the dining room—even for breakfast, use the good china, open a box of chocolates even though company wasn’t coming, and stay up late (oooh, big deal, except for us, it was a big deal). Even in the years that weren’t as merry for various reasons, big gestures can do a lot to remind us of the good and kind in the midst of the not so good.

So throughout the next less-than-25 days, enjoy whatever falls in to your category of big gestures: a buffet dinner piled high with food; special celebratory drinks (in the “good” glasses); lots and lots of decorations; dressing in glitter head to toe; or just moving into the dining room for breakfast. Add a tablecloth and some candles—even the Cheerios taste better.

Merry Christmas