Keeping the Christmas Spirit All Year

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, right? The Christmas season is a lovely time of year when, at least seemingly, people are a little happier, a little more patient, and a little kinder to their neighbors. Do you love it and wish that you could extend the Christmas spirit all year? Good news! You can! Here’s a few pointers on how to feel like it’s Christmas all year round:

Invest in Community and Traditions

One of the reasons why people enjoy the holidays is because there are traditions that we all engage in together. While you don’t have to do “Christmas” things all year, consider reading about pre-exisiting traditions and creating a few yourself for you, your family, and those in your community!

A few ideas might include:

• Hosting parties for other holidays
• Encourage small gift exchanges or to find other small ways to appreciate others
• Deliver small bits of cheer throughout the year
• Dress up for holidays
• Decorate
• Look into the Liturgical Calendar and see what Church traditions you can observe
• Look for ways to make otherwise difficult times cozy and inclusive

Spend Time Serving

Several surveys suggest that volunteerism picks up significantly during the holiday season. There’s no secret that people who serve are happy to do so because it reminds us how fortunate we are and that we have an authentic connection to everyone, no matter what our race, religion, age, or socioeconomic situation.

Spend Time Reflecting on What’s Important

Often people enjoy the holidays and feel the Christmas spirit because they spend more time reflecting on the importance of family and giving, rather than getting. Schedule specific times throughout the year to really think about what’s most important at any given time. You may find that doing this changes your perspective.

Celebrate Jesus

Finally, the reason why many people feel the Christmas spirit is because it’s a time of great joy! Think about it: GOD, himself, came to this Earth as a baby to live a life that was just for us. It’s easy to get caught up in work and life and forget about HOW GOOD the Good News really is every single days of our lives. Celebrate Jesus and his love for us every day!