One thing I
love about Christmas is the “Christmas spirit” that often surrounds us during
the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. We tend to be more worshipful and
our interactions tend to be infused with extra excitement, joy, and generosity.
During the
holiday season our smiles are just a little wider, our handshakes a touch
heartier, our purse strings a tad looser, and our creative juices overflow. We
expend a lot of energy towards making this festive season memorable and
enjoyable. Wouldn’t it be nice to spread some of the cheer throughout the year?
Staying in a
Christmas state of mind for twelve months of the year is probably unrealistic.
Let’s be honest: we can’t be carol-singing, gift-giving little elves all year
long. But there are a few elements of the holiday season that we can keep with
us throughout the year, giving every day a chance to have just a bit of the
magic that comes along with Christmas Day. Here are some of the best ways to
keep the spirit alive every day of the year:
Focus on
what you have.
The holiday
season often reminds of all that we have to be thankful for: our friends,
family, and the collective joy many of us experience at this time of year. If
we keep that feeling of appreciation with us all year long, we’ll prolong the
wonder of Christmas on a daily basis. The trick is to focus on what you have,
not what you want. Through the year, whenever you find yourself thinking, “I
wish I had…” replace that with, “I’m so thankful I have…”
Know what
really matters.
At Christmas—at
least on Christmas Day!—most of us prioritize matters most: spending time with
those we love and celebrating a season that means something to us. During the
rest of the year, it can be hard to keep our priorities straight with all of
the various aspects of life vying for our attention, but when you bring
yourself back to what matters most, you make the most of every day.
Treat
strangers with kindness.
At
Christmastime, people are often a bit kinder, merely based on the fact that
it’s Christmas. Treating others with kindness—especially those you don’t know,
and especially those who don’t necessarily treat you with
kindness—is a wonderful way to keep the spirit of Christmas alive every single
day of the year. When someone bothers you, imagine how you would treat him or
her if it were Christmas Day.
Look for the
good.
Christmas is a
time for taking note of things we love—the people we care about, the gifts
wrapped just for us—and it’s also a time for noticing special things—the little
traditions, the pretty, glittery decorations. The season brings out a sense of
childlike wonder. Trying to embrace that wonderment all year long, by looking
for good bits in every day, is another great way to keep the spirit of
Christmas alive.
Fortunately for
us, the hectic schedule of the holiday season only lasts a little while, but
the best parts of the holiday can last all year long.
This time of
year is meant to remind us of how we should live our lives every day. The
season is a celebration of values that are too important to be celebrated for
only one or two months.
In A Christmas
Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge says, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to
keep it all the year.”
Even though the
hustle and bustle of the holiday season ends when the new year begins, the
heart of the holiday can last all year long.
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