Christmas is just around the corner.
I hope you’re just as excited as I am.
I mean, setting aside the heavy traffic and the crazy yuletide rush, I have always looked forward to celebrating Christmas wherever I am in this world.
There’s something about the entire feel of this festive season that brings about unexplainable joy and peace at the same time.
And no, I am not trying to invalidate the feelings of anyone reading this because truth be told, sometimes because life happened, we feel anxious, worried and down during the holidays. Holiday blues are quite normal so stop beating yourself up and know that whatever you’re going through now and feeling as of the moment will eventually will come to pass. Just trust yourself and the process along the way.
While you’re at it, take this time to reward yourself for making it through the year. Yes, you deserve that gift you’ve always wanted for yourself. Whether it’s that new gadget you’ve had your eye on for the longest time, that extended vacation leave or getting the next stamp on your passport, don’t feel guilty for giving yourself what is due, for as long as you’re willing to take responsibility for your actions. Don’t let anything or anyone make you feel less deserving of whatever your heart desires.You only live once so take this time to celebrate yourself during the holidays.
However, amidst the festivities, one thing that you shouldn’t stress about are the gifts you can give to others. Do away with the notion that Christmas can be so expensive for everyone and that gifts determine the value you put on a certain relationship. Seriously, they don’t. It’s not how lavish your gifts are; it’s how meaningful they are and how relevant they become to a person long after the holidays are over and they begin their new chapter.
I always believed that no one is too busy to create meaningful relationships and beautiful memories. Make use of this holiday season to nurture your relationships by spending time with people closest to your heart. It’s not how long you spend time with each but rather how you maximize your time spent together that matters most. Visit a long time friend, call a relative overseas, host a lunch or dinner for your family. Remember, you’ll never know how many holidays you can still spend together in the future so make the most of the one you have now. Time is the most precious gift you can give to others (and the one you can give to yourself too) so don’t hold back on the chance to make their Christmas happier than usual with your presence.
2. Empathy
Whether someone close to you or a total stranger, they deserve your empathy. Remember that everyone has a different journey and to be able to fully understand them, you must try to walk in their shoes to see the real value of their experiences. So now, as things go crazy in between due to the holiday rush, practicing kindness and understanding towards people working overtime, or those asking for help whether loudly or silently, or those who are not in their festive holiday mood, goes a long way.
3. Help
You are never too weak, to helpless or too insignificant to help another person in need. Doing volunteer work or simply lending your time, effort and resources to help others can make a big difference during the holidays, not only for them, but for yourself as well, as you gain a most rewarding, highly fulfilling experience. Know that whatever you choose to give out this Christmas, for as long as your intentions are clear, they will return to you tenfold.
4. Hope
Somewhere out there, someone looks up to you as an inspiration. Be that shining light of hope for others by sharing your stories that can inspire them to be their own #bestmeever . Never underestimate the power of your words, impact and influence. Use them to change the lives of others for the better as you share your own wisdom lifted from your real-life experiences that are definitely worth sharing
5. Growth
Give a gift that lasts a last time and grows in value. Devote your time to teaching others new skills that can help them thrive better in life. Whether it’s all about helping them set up their own business, teaching them how to have an abundant mindset through journaling or equipping them with coaching skills, know that these will greatly impact the way they go through life positively in the long run. Sharing is caring. And know that each time you teach, you grow as well.
I hope that you get to share these gifts with people around you, whether physically or virtually.
By doing so, you not only make their Christmas happier and more meaningful, you also make yours even more special.
It’s the season of giving. And experiencing the beauty in receiving.
Don’t miss out on this.
Merry Christmas everyone.
This year is not your usual Christmas holiday.
And this is perhaps true for many.
I mean after more than two years, finally the effects of the COVID19 pandemic seems to have lessen in terms of gravity and number of cases. However, a lot of people have yet to recover from their own personal experiences filled with anxiety, worries and sadness because of what transpired in the past two holiday seasons we had.
What’s good about now though is that slowly travel and living restrictions are easing up and people have been slowly coping with the new normal.
Just in time for Christmas! Love it!
I must admit, I find joy now just driving around, admiring the Christmas decors of establishments left and right while listening to the Christmas tunes which seem to have a new meaning (and feeling!) altogether now.
Best gift ever. The freedom to finally celebrate Christmas the way we want to. Well almost. Haha.
But hey, let’s face it. Life is definitely getting better. So let’s just be grateful. *fingers crossed.
Now, I know that by this time you might slowly be getting excited to perhaps re-think how you can celebrate your Christmas this year.
Well, allow me to define first what Christmas is not so that you can truly reflect how you want to go about enjoying the holidays.
1.) Christmas is not all about gifts
Seriously. While it’s nice to be remembered or to be able to give others presents, Christmas isn’t all about that. The size of one’s gift given or received does not demarcate how valuable one is during the season. Remember, your presence alone and the presence of those dear to your heart are more than enough. Wouldn’t that be the best gift ever: simply being appreciated for who and what you are as you remain grateful for all the people who have showered you with love through the years. Think again before stressing yourself over that next present.
2.) Christmas is not about parties
While Christmas is synonymous to celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, it doesn’t exactly mean that you need to pressure yourself to say yes to all the parties and go on a drinking spree until you go bankrupt. You can still celebrate intimately with friends and loved ones even over a simple dinner and still enjoy the spirit of the holiday season. Don’t ever base your Christmas on the amount of food on the table and number of drinks in the fridge.
3.) Christmas is not just for kids, families, friends and couples.
Christmas is within you. You don’t need anyone else to remind you how beautiful it is to celebrate it, as you are. Whether you’re single, you’re on your gray years or far away from home, you can still enjoy the holidays in your space by focusing on being grateful and being present in the moment. Don’t waste the holidays away. Go out. Create meaningful connections. And relive the Christmas vision you’ve always had in your heart.
4.) Christmas is not about the amount of money you have
Your money inside your wallet or bank account has nothing to do with the amount of happiness you can have this season of giving, only if you allow yourself to look beyond monetary concerns. Stop comparing, start living within your means. And find new meaning in finding freedom from superficial concerns. Don’t miss this chance to turn the holidays into a priceless experience instead.
5.) Christmas is not just a holiday break
While generally we associate it with rest because of the non-working holidays during Christmas season, Christmas is more than just a paid vacation. It’s actually a springboard for you to reflect and recalibrate as you prepare for yet another wonderful year ahead. Invest on yourself and on your growth and start working within instead. So that by the time comes we bid Christmas goodbye, you are more than prepared to say hello to the new year that awaits. Celebrate in your own way, your own pace. It’s not just part of a timeline. It’s there to stay. So own it.
I hope this blog helps you align your thoughts about Christmas.
At the end of the day,
Christmas is what it is for you.
Make the most of it.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
I can’t agree more.
If you’re like me, you probably love Christmas just as much.
For some reasons, I feel like Christmas brings out the goodness in each and every person around us.
There’s something about the holidays that makes us want to be nicer and kinder to others and ourselves as well.
“Pasko naman. (It’s Christmas anyway)” is something we hear commonly nowadays to justify something in our lives.
Whether it’s having a break to prevent burn out, to spending on something that we have always wanted, loving ourselves more or mending broken ties with others, we seem to have gravitated towards using Christmas as a worthy excuse.
But do we really have to in the first place?
Come to think of it: does the Christmas season have something really special in it to make it as the perfect time to do the things we want and be the person we are meant to be, meaning our own #bestmeever ?
Of course as a practicing Catholic, I pay tribute to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and I truly celebrate that as, like what they say, is the true essence of Christmas. We can never discount that. And to be clear, my previous statement was never about minimizing the real value of the Christmas season in general.
It’s all about making you guys think: why do you have to wait for Christmas to give yourself what is due?
Acceptance. Self-Care. Love. Peace. Forgiveness. Happiness. New beginnings. Time off. Happily Ever Afters.
Here’s the thing: all those were never based on perfect timing. More so on Christmas per se.
They are based on your choices. Your commitment to yourself and your growth. Your willingness to make things right as you give yourself what you truly deserve to be able to live your best life.
Don’t wait until it’s December 25 or for the clock to strike 12 midnight to demarcate January 1 to turn a new leaf.
What if you treat every single day instead like Christmas?
How different will your life be?
Imagine your days filled with hope, joy and lots of good times and laughter.
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, or when you want to embark on a new unfamiliar adventure, why not say: “It’s ok. Pasko naman. (Anyway, it’s Christmas)?
Christmas was never just a period in time.
It’s a state of mind and heart.
A beautiful reminder of choosing to love ourselves more, just like how baby Jesus loves us.
Unconditionally.
This is your sign.
Reach out. Inquire within. Let yourself be.
Share that Christmas in your heart.
And watch yourself, others and everything else surrounding you become merrier.
It’s your season.
Make the most of it.
