Hello hello, and welcome to Episode 104 of Life On the Brink!
Christmastime is such a special time of year, not only because it’s filled with special music, food, and family traditions that we can only experience once a year, but because there’s an intangible spirit of goodwill and charity that appears. In the presence of such festive cheer, it’s actually seasonably appropriate to be kind and generous.
I’d like to share one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite books. It’s from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, when Scrooge’s nephew Fred expresses to his uncle on the importance of Christmas:
“I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come
round — apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that — as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long
calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to
open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if
they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has
never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done
me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!”
Christmastime is so special because it has a special way of opening our hearts to our fellow men and women, and in this episode I’d like to take it one step forward. Christmas is also the perfect time to exercise generosity. There are so many ways, both big and small, that we can be kind and generous with those around us, and I believe it’s so powerful when we take advantage of them.
In this episode, I’m sharing a few simple ways you can give to others, either with money or resources or time or energy. As we are reminded of the abundance we have in family, security, love, hope and joy, let us spread that to others!
What’s in my teacup? Trader Joe’s Candy Cane Green Tea
A few words on the subject: I know that, for one reason or another, the holidays can also be very challenging. You may not always feel secure in your own world, so how can you be expected to give to another?
My encouragement is simply this: often our problems, however valid they are, feel so amplified when we give them our attention. When we focus on our issues, we are inward-focused. These simple acts of generosity shift that focus outside of yourself. Not only can that put things more into perspective, but every item on the following list also reminds you that you are not alone. You are a part of a local, national, or global community, and adding goodness or beauty to it is never a waste.
I personally have felt the positive effects of giving, even when I didn’t know I had the resources to give. It is sometimes just as beneficial to the giver as it is to the receiver.
So with that in mind, here’s a list of ways you can feel free to give over the holidays:
GENEROUS ACTS OF KINDNESS- HOLIDAY
-Prepare simple gifts for your/your kids’ teachers. This is a very busy season for them, and the perfect time to let them know how much you appreciate them.
-It’s also a busy time for delivery drivers for the post, Amazon, FedEx, etc. Leaving refreshments or a small token of gratitude at your door or in your mailbox will be much appreciated.
-Christmastime is the perfect time to be generous with tipping. Especially if you have recurring appointments with service workers like mechanics, hair stylists, or manicurists, a little extra generosity during this time is a kind and loving gesture.
-Give to a food bank. There are so many food drives held at this time of year, just gather a bit of extra non-perishables to donate when you encounter them.
-Volunteer your time in a soup kitchen or charity event. Your time is just as valuable as any monetary donation, and can be spent helping another.
-Donate to a coat drive, or even your local charity/thrift shop. In my area Goodwill, CHKD and the Salvation Army are a few shops whose proceeds go to various causes. This is also nice because it helps to clean out the things you already own; as you prepare to give and receive gifts on Christmas Day you’re also able to think of what you already have that you can give away.
-Spread some holiday cheer by caroling door-to-door, or at your local hospital or nursing home. Bringing music and joy those around you it always so satisfying and fun for everyone involved. Caroling for the sake of singing and bringing a smile is truly one of my favorite Christmas traditions!
-Donate to a charity or relief fund. There are so many difficult or terrible things happening in our world, so why not take a moment this Christmas season to contribute to a solution?
-Random acts of kindness. Pay for the person in line behind you at Starbucks, hold open doors and smile at those you interact with. I love being able to wish people a “Merry Christmas” at any time, so many times I’ve seen their face light up just by receiving a little dose of cheer.
There you go! By no means should you feel like you need to check every item off this list or something. Rather, if one or two (or three) stand out to you, or perhaps come to your mind as you go about your days, take a chance and give them a try.
Also, may I please take a moment to remind you that you also need to be loving to yourself, dear friend. It’s much more difficult to care for others when you are not taken care of, so please give yourself a break and surround yourself with those who help take care of you. It’s when we feel loved that we can best love others.
And, as I mentioned earlier, sometimes helping someone else is just the thing to bring yourself some joy. Happy giving!
This Week’s Little Joy: After several days of Christmas shows I was SO TIRED and enjoyed a very quiet Monday just resetting my life. I did laundry and groceries and went for a walk, just enjoying watching my home slowly become tidier. Later in the afternoon I went to my sister's house to catch up on Bake-Off with her and it was wonderful and cozy. It was just a lovely reminder that I really like my normal day-to-day life.
What I’m Listening To: The album is "Carols from Clare College, Cambridge," and is full of lovely classic arrangements. It's uplifting and absolutey wonderful.
Thank you so much for listening! Feel free to leave a comment, or head to Apple Podcasts to leave a star rating or review. If you have any suggestions for future episodes, send an email in the contact form on this site. I’d love to hear from you, and I'll be back with a new episode every week leading up to Christmas!