Dear Eric: Christmas is overwhelming for me. I don’t enjoy shopping and never have. I don’t like giving gifts just for the sake of gift exchanges. I have too much stuff already, and frankly, I can’t afford that anymore.

I do enjoy giving when I see something that I know will be perfect for the recipient and make them happy, but the pressure of doing it on a schedule is too much. Additionally, my marriage of 27 years fell apart around the holidays about two years ago, and it’s just not a great time of year now.

I have two older children (21 and 16). I still like to provide a nice Christmas for them, but how do I relay to my family and friends that I will be celebrating at my place of worship and with my children, but don’t want to be given any gifts, nor should they expect any from me, wi

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