Hi! Welcome back and Merry Christmas!
I know it’s been a while since we’ve met for dinner here — I’ve been pouring a lot of effort into my paid Brunch at Sera’s series (as it turns out, there are only so many hours in a day), but I’m excited to be back with you today on this lovely, festive Sunday — and I promise, this will be a more regular occurrence in 2024.
In this issue, I have a few thoughts on consumerism, tradition (in ritual and design), and the power of positivity. Let’s eat!
Consumption
I recently came across a TikTok where a well-intentioned creator shared his holiday gift curation and guide. While there were undoubtedly some decent items on the list, I was taken aback by the unnecessary nature of it all (so many characterless and utterly bland gifts) and the language used to endorse it (let me emphasize, I'm not singling him out; I understand his good intentions, but the overarching emphasis on needless consumerism really gave me pause). Statements like "you can never have too many lounge sets" and "you can never have too many gym sets" struck a chord with me because, I’d like to remind everyone, you definitely can have an excess of these things.
What surprised me even more was the response - over 2,000 comments, almost all positive, with sentiments like "this is such a good gift guide." It made me reflect on how deeply ingrained and accepted this consumerist culture is in our society. Why do we feel the need to gift in excess of what we already have?
I posted my (second) annual "ins and outs" list on Instagram on Friday, heavily influenced by the TikTok I mentioned earlier. Jokingly, I listed "Stanley cups" under the 'out' category and "drinking water out of a normal water glass" under the 'in' category. If you haven't been bombarded by TikToks (from influencers and everyday folks alike) showcasing this very viral water jug, which used to be solely designated for camping trips, count yourself fortunate.
America is obviously a land of excess. There are so many viral TikTok products that, luckily, we can’t even access in Europe. I’ve started to see the Stanley cup make its way across the Atlantic, in small glimpses, but nowhere remotely near the rate in which its proliferated in the US — when I was in Florida in November, there were signs at Target limiting customer purchase to five per customer. FIVE! Why would anyone need to buy five, $30+ camping water bottles?
Why is there this urge to trade in something that already served its purpose perfectly well, like a basic drinking glass or reusable water bottle, for an exorbitantly priced, oversized substitute? In reflecting on this, my main takeaway is a simple yet crucial reminder: pause and think before making a purchase (which incidentally finds its place on the 'in' list). Some of the most cherished gifts I've ever received held no material value. They were priceless in sentiment and personal significance. Sometimes, the joy lies in appreciating what you have rather than succumbing to the pressure to replace it with an expensive duplicate.
So, here's a thought to carry forward: if it's working fine, there's often no need to tinker with it. The wisdom of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" certainly holds weight in many aspects of our lives, including our consumer choices.
The Christmas spirit
My family is technically Muslim, although I didn’t grow up religious, nor did we celebrate Muslim holidays, and by virtue of growing up in the US (and my mom in Germany), we’ve always celebrated Christmas. I’ve never found Christmas to be a particularly religious holiday, perhaps due to its heavily consumerist nature.
Something I’ve found myself greatly enjoying in adulthood is staying put and spending Christmas alone/with friends. I’m an only child, so I’ve always said, anytime I go home, it feels like Christmas — no need to fly halfway across the world when flights are at their most expensive. What’s nice about this, is that it also makes you feel justified in decorating your space for Christmas, because you’re there to enjoy it!
Growing up, my mom always made sure we only had the chicest Christmas decor. I have fond memories of very elegant and understated decorations that could have been found in Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware year round, which is what I’ve tried to carry over into my own decorations. I love a statement vase with some form of dried greens, a simple tree with delicate, glass ornaments, and dramatic candlesticks. I think Christmas colors naturally lend themselves to a cleaner and more elegant design.
I love getting into the spirit of the season, decorating my home, spending time at Christmas markets, listening to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” on repeat, putting bows in my hair, and creating my own traditions. Tonight, I’m spending Christmas Eve with friends at their home, and tomorrow I’m having friends over for a Christmas lunch at mine. I’ve decided to use my nice china and my cloth napkins (complete with gold napkin rings!) for the occasion — it adds such a special touch.
Whether you celebrate or Christmas or not (a New Year’s Eve dinner is a great, truly agnostic occasion), I highly recommend carving out these special traditions for yourself. It keeps life memorable and exciting.
Spreading joy
On a recent, rainy Tuesday in Berlin, I was running late to meet a friend for coffee, and I ordered an Uber. All I said when I got into the car was a cheery “hi, thank you!” and my driver immediately turned around and said, “wow — finally someone in a good mood this week!”
We started chatting, and he told me that I was first person all week to give off any sort of “positive energy”. This caught me off guard, as my three simple words didn’t feel like much, yet they seemed to make a difference. We soon started talking about how his mother had recently passed away after a long illness, and how it had been a very difficult time for him.
I think it just goes to show to not underestimate how much a smile on your face can positively impact someone else’s day and serves as a good reminder for us that our outlook can shape someone else’s reality — just as much as our own.
A complete anthology of everything in my home you might care about
If you’ve ever wondered where anything in my apartment is from, how I found it, how I found an apartment in Berlin, why I chose specific design elements, what my goals are, how I maintain routine, or any number of topics related to living mindfully in a space you’ve curated, these are the issues for you to refer back to!
Many of these issues are behind a paywall, like my “designing your dream life” series, but wanted to remind you that a 7 day free trial gets you access to my full archive. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll like it so much that you’ll stick around! I can’t express enough just how much I appreciate your support.
My complete home anthology is as follows:
Dinner at Sera’s, vol. 4: Everything in my home
Dinner at Sera’s, vol. 12: My belief in the importance of ritual
Dinner at Sera’s, vol. 19: An updated home catalog
Brunch at Sera’s, vol. 9: How I found an apartment in Berlin and how I got started on decorating
Brunch at Sera’s, vol. 10: Making specific design choices and defining your style preferences
Brunch at Sera’s, vol. 11: My future design goals and living intentionally
Song of the week
“Warning Sign” — Hannah Jadagu
I hope you’re having a great celebration, and whether it’s for Christmas or not, I hope you’re enjoying this time of year! As I’ve made abundantly clear, I very much am a “New Year’s” type of person (new year = new beginnings), and I can’t wait for what’s to come.
There will be no Dinner at Sera’s next Sunday, but we’ll be back in 2024 — for Brunch at Sera’s subscribers, I’ll see you on Thursday.
Thanks for reading and chat soon!
-Sera