With just a few days before Christmas, there are so many last minute preparations that most likely still need to be done. I see crowds everywhere and everyone seems to be in a hurry to complete the lists of tasks before the big day. But, there is one thing that struck me about the crowds and that has been that despite the urgency and anxiety that many are feeling, the people seem to be kinder and nicer to one another than would be expected. I guess it would be what many call the holiday spirit that is filling the air and it sure is a welcome addition to the season.
I am trying to figure out how to carry this spirit beyond the Christmas season. I have decided that I personally am going to make every effort to pay attention to those around me and try to find ways to do something for them. For example, if I am at the store, I am going to check whether someone else may only have a couple of items or are dealing with little ones who are getting anxious and allow them to go before me in the checkout line. I am going to try to anticipate ways in which I can help others at work or at the very least, acknowledge them when they do a good job or help others. On the road, I will try to be patient with those who believe that where they are going and what they are doing to get there is more important than anything or anyone else. And most of all, I want to find ways to give more all year long in any way that I can.
Christmas is the season of giving and wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could keep this spirit going all year long? It is not just giving gifts but also it is giving of ourselves. We already have the best gift of all to give to others and it doesn’t cost anything and that is the gift of love.Barbara Jacoby
I guess the spirit of Christmas has really set in with me and I want to hold on to it forever. I think that maybe in my own small way that if I can do more and be more for everyone that I encounter, perhaps some of it will rub off on them and they will do something similar. But, mainly my goal is to keep this spirit because it lightens my soul and fills my heart with such a joyous feeling. After all, if I find something really cool or think of a terrific gift idea in June, why should I save it for Christmas? There is nothing wrong with giving someone a present, just because! Or doing just about any other nice thing for someone else without the holiday or any other occasion without expecting something in return.
Yes, I love the holidays and all of the delight and wonder and excitement that they bring. I want to keep as much of this spirit for the rest of the year as I possibly can and I hope that you just might want to do the same thing. I hope that we can still listen to one another as we do when we are sharing our Christmas lists. I hope that we can be just a bit nicer to everyone so that we can stay on the “nice” list all year round and not just have to worry about it when it is time for Santa to deliver. I hope that we can give each other at least a smile throughout all the days ahead like we do when we are filled with the excitement of the holidays. And maybe, just maybe, we can give someone something special that they would absolutely love whenever we can without the need for a special occasion.
Christmas is the season of giving and wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could keep this spirit going all year long? It is not just giving gifts but also it is giving of ourselves. We already have the best gift of all to give to others and it doesn’t cost anything and that is the gift of love. What if each of us were to give love to someone every day in some way that would be appropriate for that person? Can you begin to imagine how everything around us would change? And would that be wonderful!
So with this message, I want to wish every single one of you the best holidays ever and may the spirit of the season remain with you throughout the entire New Year. And, even if it is not politically correct, I want to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!
Barbara Jacoby is an award winning blogger that has contributed her writings to multiple online publications that have touched readers worldwide.