Finding the Spirit of the Holiday Season Within

Are you too stressed to realize the holiday season is alive and well within you?

Look Within to Find the Holiday Season

Is the holiday season usually overly stressful for you? For many people, the answer is probably ‘Yes!’ When you stress out over the holidays with all the preparation, shopping, wrapping gifts, etc., you might easily lose sight of just what the holiday season is supposed to mean. It should be a time of joy, love, sharing, merriment, magic, and for some, a spiritual experience. So, what can you do to feel the “spirit of the holidays” so that you truly enjoy this wonderful happy time?

What would make you happy and calm this holiday season? I find that making plans ahead of time helps to alleviate the anxiety and expectation of the holidays. Once I’ve done a bit of forwarding planning, I find I have space to think, and surprisingly, the spirit of the holidays slips into my soul when I least expect it. It can happen when I am decorating, planning an evening of entertaining with good friends, playing some holiday music or it can pop in out of the blue like it did the other day.

I was at the local store a few days ago, and I saw a mom with her young son looking at toys in one of the aisles. I could tell she didn’t have a lot of money and she was also heavily pregnant with another child. Her young son was wide-eyed as he looked at a video game system that he hoped his mom could buy. I continued shopping, and when I was done, I went to the cash register to find the mom with her son standing in front of me. I was pleased to see that she had the video game system on the counter. As the cashier was ringing up the game, the price that came up on the register was higher she’d thought! The cashier advised the woman that she was looking at the wrong price tag for the system. The video game system price was much higher than she thought it was and slowly took the system off the counter as she excused herself and slowly walked back to the toy aisle to put it back on the shelf. I could hear her son begin to cry because he was not going to get his special gift that day. She tried to comfort the boy and starting pointing out other toys that she could afford and hopefully one that he would enjoy.

I finished up at the cashier counter and felt drawn to walk over to see the mom. I could tell that he was a good kid. I don’t know why, but I felt that I just wanted to help. I asked the mom, who looked a little startled at a total stranger approaching her: “He really wants that game system, doesn’t he?” His tears were the only answer I needed. You could see how much he loved his mom. I asked if I could help pay for the game system and she put her head down and said quietly: “I’m so sorry, but there’s no way I could take your money, but thank you.”

I felt she was just being polite by saying no and was saddened that she couldn’t buy this for her son. I instinctively reached into my pocket and put all the cash into her hand. She started to shake her head, and I told her, as her son was watching, to let me help her because her son was watching and I wanted to show him that there are people who care. “One day, he’ll remember this day, and hopefully he’ll be equally kind to another person who needs it.”

I walked out of the store with a tear in my eye because I knew that this video game system was not only going to make his day but would make it a memorable one. When I was a kid, holidays weren’t usually the happiest times in my home because of my dad’s drinking, and I wanted this young boy to feel the joy and the magical spirit of the holidays. By helping them feel the spirit – I too felt it warm me.

So, by planning ahead of what activities you may enjoy, whether it’s going to a craft fair, playing your favorite holiday music, attending a holiday concert or a religious or spiritual service; or even planning a gift swap can be such fun. None of these activities have to be expensive, but they’re great ways to relieve or reduce the stress that can come with the holidays. All you need to do is just plan a little, so you’re in control rather than letting the holiday season overwhelm you.

Also, the art of giving back, whether it’s planned or unexpected is amazing. Inviting someone over who doesn’t have much family can lift the spirit of someone … usually, you find it’s when they need it the most. Trust yourself … if you feel the urge to reach out, then do it. All these things will help to find the spirit of the holidays within. When you feel the spirit within – it will surely show on the outside!

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