Happy Holidays everyone! We hope you have a fun, safe and loving holiday with your family. Today's post is a guest post from our good friend Christine Hill.
It's Beginning to Feel
a Lot Like Christmas
By Christine Hill
Christmas season is in full swing, and
I am loving it. I hate winter with a vicious passion, and watch the
shortening days with dismay, but Christmas actually makes the month
of December worth it. (January is a completely different story, but
we won’t talk about that right now.)
Here’s the thing about Christmas:
while we’re putting up decorations and organizing parties and
gifts, sometimes the holiday starts to feel a little fabricated or
hollow. Going through phases of really good Christmases, and others
where I felt adrift and alone, I’ve gradually noticed that there
are a handful of things that are undeniably “Christmas” to me.
Things that make it feel genuine and familiar. Things I just can’t
do without during the month of December. Everyone’s list is
different, but these are the things that make it feel like
Christmas to me, instead of just looking like it.
The Smell
When I was a kid, my mom watched way
too many episodes of Rescue 911. I fully blame this show for robbing
us of real Christmas trees each year. I mean, how many episodes about
Christmas trees going up in flames do you have to show, Rescue 911?
In any case, we switched to a fake tree when I was about 8, and I
missed the smell of evergreen in the house after that. To me, that
smell is one of the signatures of Christmas. Just for the record,
it’s pretty simple to prevent Christmas tree fires. This
article here is a great guide. But, if you’re
someone who prefers fake trees, that’s fine. I found my peace with
fake trees when I started having to vacuum up fallen needles. Here
are some natural ways that you can still make your home smell
amazing:
- Simmer some cinnamon and orange peels in water on your burner
- Bake something delicious
- Collect cedar and pine cones filled with resin from outside, then put them by the door so the smell wafts in with each exit and entrance
- Get a natural wreath
- Make an easy, natural air freshener out of cloves piercing an orange
The Coziness
Another thing about Christmas is the
coziness factor. Even in southern California where I grew up, the
December chill would sink into your skin, and it was my favorite
thing to bundle up in response. Seriously, is there any feeling more
delicious than thawing your feet by a heating vent after coming in
from the cold? That’s why every December heralds a tribute to
coziness in my house. That means:
- Those amazingly soft blankets from Costco
- Super warm double-layered socks
- Special Christmas pajamas
I like to drape pretty blankets and
cushions all around my house so that every seat is a perfect place to
cuddle, and change into my pajamas absurdly early.
The Lights
Twinkle lights! Oh man, another
favorite thing about the season. I love seeing stores and businesses
deck out their shop windows with lights, and I love when towns
decorate main street with light-wrapped trees. Going out with a car
full of kids to enjoy the Christmas lights in the neighborhood is a
favorite December tradition. This year I’m wrapping white twinkle
lights and garlands around the columns on the front porch of my new
house. In order to keep the decorating smooth and joyful, instead of
stressful and hazardous, remember to follow safety guidelines. Here
are some other ideas to keep your Christmas front yard
decorations festive and safe.
The Giving
If you’re not feeling the Christmas
spirit, it might be time to change your focus. Make it your goal to
enter into the spirit of giving, of generosity, patience, and
friendliness. Here are some ideas:
- Sub for Santa
- Organize a food drive for families in your community
- Find a way to serve seniors in an assisted living community near you
- Strike up a friendly conversation with whoever’s next to you in line at the store
- Bring hot chocolate to homeless people in your city
- Send a personalized thank-you note to someone who’s helped you in life
- Call up an old friend
One of my very favorite Christmas
moments was among total strangers, at the Post Office. It was
crowded, and everyone was obviously trying to meet some Christmas
deadlines. It would be so easy for tensions to run high. Instead,
there was an unmistakable spirit of generosity. One mother seemed
harried, trying to keep two rowdy children in line. Instead of
getting annoyed at the noise, another woman distracted the children
with a toy she’d found in her purse while the mother went to the
front desk. When an elderly man started getting frustrated by the
self-service kiosk, a college student in line behind him stepped in
to help. When my credit card simply wouldn’t work and I was about
to break down in tears, someone else stepped in and paid for me to
send my parcel. Every potentially stressful situation during the
holidays can be turned into an opportunity to show others generosity
and genuine kindness.
How about you? What are the
characteristic things that make it feel like Christmas to you?
Christine is a professional writer and
an avid reader who’s passionate about storytelling in all its
forms. At any given moment, she’s in the middle of at least three
books on anything from human psychology to ninjas. Although she’s a
marathon swimmer and enjoys camping in the mountains, she believes
there’s nothing better than a carton of ice cream and a Dawson’s
Creek marathon.
#nextgenerationsahmblog, #guestpost, #christmas
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