From cheery music and
colorful lights to Christmas trees and visits with Santa Claus, the holidays
can be a lot of fun. However, sometimes the hustle and bustle of the
season can get the best of us. The hectic holiday pace can turn even the
nicest person into the Grinch or Ebenezer Scrooge. Fortunately, it's easy
to help everyone have a happy holiday if you take advantage of all the great
seasonal opportunities to improve the lives of those around you. Here are
some fun ways to spread Christmas spirit this holiday season:
1. Pay it backward.
You've probably heard
about the idea of paying it forward when someone does something nice for
you. The next time you're in a fast food drive-thru, apply a similar
version of that principle by literally paying it backward. When you reach
the drive-thru window, simply tell the cashier that you'd like to pay the tab
for the car behind you in addition to your own meal. You can then instruct
the cashier to pass along your warm wishes for a happy holiday season.
You might even start a chain of patrons paying for the next customer in
line. Plus, you never know how much a free meal could mean to someone who
might be struggling financially during the holidays. Paying it backward
is a small gesture that can really pass on the Christmas cheer!
2. Bake Christmas cookies.
Whether you like them
chewy or crunchy, there's nothing quite like a fresh cookie right out of the
oven. The holiday season is the perfect time of year to share some
delicious homemade goodies with all your friends, family and acquaintances.
Bake a batch of scrumptious snickerdoodles or oatmeal scotchies to deliver your
neighbor. Make a platter of peanut butter crisscross cookies for your
mailman or your child's teacher. Take some classic chocolate chip to the
office break room for your coworkers to indulge in. You can even host a
cookie-swap so everyone can bring samples of his or her signature dessert.
Don't forget to let your kids decorate some holiday-themed sugar cookies or
gingerbread men with frosting and sprinkles. They'll be terrific to place
out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. Everyone knows the big guy will
appreciate the tasty treats along with a cold glass of milk. Whether you
make them from scratch or take a little help from a mix or roll of dough, a
plateful of fresh cookies is sure to warm your heart and soul this holiday
season.
3. Volunteer with a charitable organization.
This is the time of
year when many people gather with loved ones and count their blessings.
Most of us have so much to be grateful for and the holidays provide the perfect
opportunity to give to those who might be less fortunate than ourselves.
Volunteer to ring the bell and collect money for the Salvation Army. Help
serve Christmas dinner to the homeless at a soup kitchen or shelter. Fill
up a couple of shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child or purchase a few dolls
and games for the annual Toys for Tots campaign. Clean out your closet
and donate your kids' outgrown jackets to a cause like the Coats for the Cold
drive. You can even let your children help you shop for gifts to fulfill
an Angel Tree request. Having them pick out presents for another child
will teach them that giving is much more important than receiving.
Everyone in the family can feel good knowing that he or she is making a
difference in the lives of others at a time when they need it most.
Preparing for Christmas
can be stressful, but it doesn't have to dampen the holiday mood. We
should all slow down and take time to really enjoy the sights and sounds of the
season. Let the festive atmosphere give you a warm, fuzzy feeling
and then spread the love! By using one or all of these great ideas, you
can help everyone feel a little bit of that Christmas spirit over the
holidays. You'll be doing your part to truly make this the most wonderful
time of the year.
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