5 Ways to Buck the Trend and
Add Meaning to The Holidays

The
holiday time of the year is typically
busy with the hustle and bustle of getting prepared for celebration and
the gathering of family and friends.
The tendency for many of us is to rush around madly trying to
buy the right gifts, decorate our homes, attend a variety of
parties, and generally scurry around
until we practically fall down from exhaustion.
Is this how it is meant to be? Not that we shouldn't
enjoy gift giving and merry
making - indeed we should!
However, it is most important that we partake of the
true
spirit of the season - the joy of family and friends and the reflection
upon why we are celebrating.
This holiday season could be better spent in sharing in each
other's joy, laughter and spirit. It's never too late to get back to
the real meaning of giving and receiving.
Here are some ways we can to do so:
- Appreciate
why we're here.
In case we forget, and sometimes it's hard not to; we're not here to
consume, spend and use up. Granted we live in materialistic times but
with the world economy changing and prices rising, it's time to step
back and re-evaluate. Do we really need to buy on a whim? Do we need
one hundred pairs of shoes or the latest souped-up anything? We're
actually here to experience, enjoy and share with each other. Yes we
can exchange meaningful and appropriate gifts, but we don't have to
overdo it. We can take our time and be sensitive to what the person
needs or will get genuine joy from.
- Appreciate
each other.
Rather than focus on what your family or friends might want, focus on
who they are and what they mean to you. When he was on the Oprah show
promoting his book For One More Day, Mitch Albom
talked about what you would say to someone deceased if you had one more
day to spend with them. It certainly wouldn't be about the gifts you
bought them or how much money you spent.
- Be deliberate and make every moment count.
Our lives are busy, no question about it. During the holidays make the
conscious decision to savor
every moment. Who knows how many of you will be around for
future gatherings? Parents age, circumstances change, life moves
forward. You never know what next year will bring. Make the most of the
time you have together.
- Be kind and caring.
The holidays are not pleasant for everyone. There are many who don't
have much and will find themselves lacking at this time of the year.
Donate coats, food and money to the less fortunate. Don't just give to
those who have much, give to those who don't. You'll feel so good about
doing it, better than you can imagine.
- Be grateful and reflective.
As mentioned, this time of the year is busy and demanding, however the
real purpose of the holidays is not to run around finding the coolest
gifts and to rack up the credit cards. It's to assess, reflect and be
grateful for the freedom and abundance we have. Take the time to listen
to the beautiful holiday music,
enjoy the gorgeous decorations and be thankful for everything.
During this holiday season make the conscious decision to
enjoy the many spiritual
gifts the holidays bring; the joy, the laughter and the sharing with
family and friends. Understand that not everyone is as fortunate as we
are and make every effort to help those that aren't. Doing so will
advance your compassion,
understanding and ultimately your personal
development.
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