In Jars

“I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month.”  (Harlan Miller)

Christmas is always full of many different emotions. Many feelings at this time of year bring out both the best (and worst) in humanity.  A new year begins for everyone on January First.

Soon the holiday lights come down, and on the street dried-out Christmas trees dot the landscape adorned in orphaned strands of tinsel.  When the discarded props of the season disappear from view, often the holiday goodness also fades away.

 

The lyrics to “Christmas Everyday” (by Unspoken) provide a solution to the above dilemma of losing the Christmas spirit. Can you put this into practice?

 

Tell me why do we wait 364 days
To slow down and stop
Remember how blessed we are
So we're trading in the wish list
All the things we never needed
Let love fill up our hearts

All year we should remember
Remember how blessed we are

We don't need lights, we don't need snow
If we're got the faith then we've got the hope
Through the year we don't have to wait
Cause it's Christmas everyday
Can you hear the angels sing
Let the love in your heart be the gift you bring
And put a smile of someone's face

Continually staying in a Christmas state of mind for twelve months of the year is unrealistic. There are elements of Christmas Day that we all can take to heart throughout the year.  Here are some of the best ways to do that:

 

1.   Focus on what you have: Christmas often reminds all of us that we have to be thankful for with our family and friends. If we keep that feeling of appreciation with us all year long, we'll prolong the blessedness of Christmas on a regular basis. The rule is to focus on what you have, and not on what you want. Through the year, whenever you find yourself thinking, “I wish I had…” replace that with, “I’m so thankful I have…”

 

2.   Know what really matters: On Christmas  most of us prioritize spending time with those we love. This means something to us. During the rest of the year, it can be hard to keep things straight with all of the various aspects of life vying for our attention. When you bring yourself back to what matters most, you make the most of every day.

 

3.   Look for the good: Christmas is a time for taking note of the traditions we love and the people we care about. It's a time for noticing special the special sights, sounds, and smells of this holiday. You can embrace the childlike wonder year long. By looking for the good daily, you will be keeping the spirit of Christmas alive.

 

4.   Treat strangers with kindness: On Christmas, people are often kinder. Treating strangers (and your enemies) with kindness is a magnificent way to keep the spirit of Christmas alive every single day of the year. When someone bothers you, imagine how you would treat him or her if it were Christmas Day.

“I sometimes think we expect too much of Christmas Day. We try to crowd into it the long arrears of kindliness and humanity of the whole year. As for me, I like to take my Christmas a little at a time, all through the year. And thus I drift along into the holidays-let them overtake me unexpectedly-waking up some fine morning and suddenly saying to myself: ‘Why this is Christmas Day!’” (Ray Stannard Baker)[i]

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[i] Sources used:

·        “4 Ways to Hold On to the Holiday Spirit... All Year Round” by Rona Cherry

·        “How to Keep the Spirit of Christmas all Year Long” by Dani