Christmas wishes

I'm a regular reader of holiday gift guides and celebrity wish lists, you know, the ones where some ditzy second rate celebrity tries for some positive publicity by telling the tabloids how they want world peace for Christmas?
I like all those lists and if I took notice of them I would be some kind of expert on what's hot & what's not, what's in & what's out, who cares & who doesn't but the reality is that while I love to read them they make me cringe too.
So, in the spirit of Yuletide list making I thought that I would tell you my Christmas wishes. (you remember my previous top ten lists, right?)
I hope for peace, I hope for everybody to be fed, I hope for clean water and accessible health care and compassion for everyone but they are no brainers.

In no particular order, some things I have a personal interest in this Christmas:

1. Having experienced bullying of different degrees at different times I would hope that nobody have to live in fear. This applies on all scales: domestic, school, workplace, national and international
2. You all know my belief in chiropractic treatment for all kinds of ailments. I wish it was more widely sought after and recognised, I wish it could be subsidised for those who can't afford it. I just wish everybody could benefit from it.
3. I would like to see people scrutinise their spending habits and really understand wants vs. needs. Billions of dollars are spent each year on unwanted gifts and that doesn't even recognise the stuff people buy for themselves and leave unused. If we could get this more in perspective it would ease financial worries, lift guilt, re-order priorities and help the planet.
4. Sick of t-shirts that fade, stretch, fall apart and aren't long enough I had a personal wish for merino shirts. Mum & Dad are helping me out with this Christmas wish (thanks!) The shirts cost a bomb but if they turn out as good as I think they'll be well worth it. Merino is promoted as good for the planet and i think these things get complicated to measure but if I wash them less and they last longer it's a good start.
5. It would be nice if the world's affluent people commited to eating less meat. I'm not asking for vegetarianism but for a limited consumption of our limited fish stocks and frugality with farm raised meats because it can be an expensive, wasteful and cruel process.
6. I think everybody could do with more stillness and more quiet in their lives. I think we need to create quiet and then sit with it. It doesn't have to be extreme, if we could just start by turning off the car radio......or the TV......or watching a sunset.......