Make This Your Best Holiday Ever!

Put the joy back in your holiday!
Whatever holiday you are celebrating … whether it is Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, or some other holiday, this time of year is a time for giving thanks, for renewal, and for the celebrations of life. Over the years, it has become so commercialized that finding the right gift, the best decorations, and setting the perfect table have overshadowed the true meaning (and traditions) of the holidays.

We tend to feel stress, rather than joy. There is too much to do, and not enough time (or money) to do it in. How can we realign ourselves with the joy and peace that is at the heart of the holiday season? We might start by listing the things that are truly important to us.

Life’s real priorities.
In this age of instant communications, we can become so overwhelmed with information that we lost track of the truly important things in life. Would your list look something like this?

• Home
• Family
• Friends
• Community
• Health
• Faith
• Means of Livelihood
• The Ability To Help Others

Holiday Traditions.
Traditions for this holiday season revolve around family and community. It is the small things that we do, rather than the big, expensive gifts that make a difference. This is a time for creating memories. Involve the entire family in choosing and putting up holiday decorations. Share with your children holiday memories from your youth, and family stories.

Put love into your baking and cooking. Allow (and encourage!) others to help you. Bake and cook on the basis of what you have time for, and what is important to your family. Create new traditions … things that are meaningful to you, and that blend the old and the new.

Community Outreach.
Remember that your community acts as extended family … they are the “village” that you live in. During the holiday season, take time to give back to your community. Consciously choose to do so in a manner that brings you and your family joy.  You may choose to “adopt” a family for the holidays, making sure that they know that they are cared about … that someone will make sure that they have food, and that someone does care that a gift or two is under their tree (and that they have a tree, if that is their tradition).

You may work through your church or synagogue, or you may choose to do this on your own. You may wish to donate money, which allows others to feed and cloth those who need help. You may wish to shovel the sidewalk for a neighbor, take them to see the holiday lights, or invite them over for a meal. You may wish to write a service person serving overseas, just to let them know that you care.

Conscious Living.
Choose to live this holiday in a conscious manner. Make whatever you choose to do important to you and your family. Find true meaning and joy in your traditions (and consciously leave behind those traditions that are not serving you well). You may find that in putting the joy back into your holidays, that “less is more”.

If you want someone to talk to, someone that can help you define your holiday season, our readers aer available 24/7.

Wishing you the best of holidays!