Making Your Christmas More Meaningful
Does it surprise you that winter doesn’t officially begin until December 21st?! Over here in Utah we’ve been feeling the winter vibes for weeks. Weather is chilly and we are all snuggled up indoors. With Christmas on the horizon and our loved ones close by, today we are inspired to share several ways to make your upcoming holiday more meaningful.
Slow Down
These are two words I find myself frequently writing into my planner. No need to conform to the frantic pace that surrounds us from time to time. Remind yourself that detours and delays are okay. The tasks can wait. What can’t wait is the relationships that need nurturing. The people right in front of you. To achieve the connection we crave, we need to be willing to slow down first.
Make A Difference
Put away your Christmas wishlist for a few moments and open your eyes to the needs around you. One of the best-kept secrets is that helping others is the quickest way to create personal happiness! Here are 15 ideas of how you can care for others to create joy and meaning this Christmas:
Handwrite a letter to accompany your Christmas gift to a parent.
Stuff Christmas stockings with personal hygiene items and treats to deliver to the homeless in your area.
Undergo a needed personal change as a gift to your family.
Visit a grandparent and listen to stories about their youth.
Organize a cookie decorating party for the children in your neighborhood, taking care to invite those who would especially appreciate the invitation.
Join a friend in their religious service to better understand a perspective different from yours.
Conduct a neighborhood donation effort for your local women’s shelter.
Scrape the ice off of a friend’s windshield early in the morning.
Whenever you plan to bake, double the batch and give half to whoever you feel inspired to share with!
If someone close to you has a stressful day coming up, remember that day. Mark it in your calendar and send them a text of support!
Choose to smile at every stranger you pass by on a given day, and say hello or Merry Christmas when the opportunity presents itself.
Offer to bring a meal to a sick friend.
Take a portion of your Christmas budget, or next paycheck. Doorbell ditch, leaving cash in a blank envelope on the porch of a family in need.
Take a long drive with your children, family or friends. Spend the time telling stories and sharing memories that you treasure.
Challenge yourself to closely listen to the needs of those around you - at work, at home, at social events. Find ways to help anonymously.
Notice The Good
Notice the good in yourself, in others, and in your environment. Speak it out loud when you can! When sharing compliments or praise for other people, be sincere and specific about what you love. Being around a positive person can change the dynamic of your entire day, and being that person yourself is even more rewarding. When we get in the habit of identifying all that is going right, we (and everyone else around us too!) tend to see it and appreciate it more.
We challenge you to pick one idea from this post and add it to this week’s to-do list!
Happy Holidays, Golden Coil friends!