Have you taken down your Christmas tree yet? I haven’t and I likely won’t for another week or two. I like to sit in the living room sipping my early morning coffee with the soft glow of Christmas tree lights illuminating the room. It’s a lovely start to the day. To be honest, I’d keep Christmas lights up all year if it was socially acceptable and my friends and family wouldn’t make fun. Yes, I’m that kind of person.
To me, taking the tree down marks the end of the holiday season, and personally, I’d like to see it hang on a little longer.
During the holidays we were all so much nicer to each other. We smiled and stopped to chat and wished each other well. Many of us caught up with old acquaintances while out and about shopping and we extended hope for all good things the season had to offer.
We opened our wallets and gave generously to ensure anyone who wanted to celebrate Christmas on the Coast had the means to do it by way of a hamper or some help to make things brighter. Some of us opened our homes to those struggling this season and shared a meal and some good cheer with people we knew needed the love.
I’m getting all warm and fuzzy just thinking about it.
But now the calendar tells us the holiday season is over, and like a switch, many of us are once again busy in our daily lives, without time to chat or extend an offer of help or hospitality.
Why is that?
I’m pretty sure we’re all still the loving, caring people we were a week ago. We’re all likely a bit less affluent than we were heading into the Christmas season, but money doesn’t make a caring person.
Some of the most caring people I’ve ever met were downright destitute but quick to offer their last can of soup to share for a meal if I had the time.
Time. Is that it? Did we have more time during the holidays? Well, sort of, I guess. Many of us had a few days off work but honestly I felt busier during the holidays than I am usually, getting things ready for company, entertaining, preparing meals and cleaning.
I think it’s a choice. I think we chose to be more loving, caring and giving during the holidays. It likely helped that so many others were doing the same thing – as a population we tend to follow what’s popular – but we still had to make a personal choice to extend kindness and then act on it.
With that in mind, going into the new year I’m going to choose to do something caring for someone every day, no matter how I’m feeling or what’s going on for me. It will take some effort and a bit of sacrifice, but I believe it will pay dividends to my family, my friends and my community and help that Christmas spirit I love linger a little longer.
Care to join me?
