Celebrate a Truly Joyous Christmas

I love Christmas, it’s a joyous time of year.  

Your heart swells with the spirit of giving.  Children’s eyes light with excitement and homes are decked out with lights and there are festive decorations everywhere.

  Christmas music seems to reach out and touch our sometimes parched souls.  And if we have snow, it’s absolutely beautiful!  

As I sit here writing the candles are lit, “Away in a Manger,” is playing and I have fabulous fire going in the fireplace. It’s simply a glorious morning.  A morning I have planned and create for us.  

Stay with me, there’s a reason for telling you all this.

Before I do, let me relate a great shopping experience I had recently.

 I was at the Geer Gift shop in Griswold, a tiny, warm and welcoming space, where Mrs. Geer and her helpers have created an atmosphere that we all want to experience.  People are smiling, unhurried, truly enjoying the discovery of the “perfect gift.”   Mrs. Geer will even wrap your gift for free.

The only thing that could possibly make it better would be warm sugar cookies and milk.

OK, by now some of you are probably thinking, “Oh please, give me a break.  She can’t possibly be for real.”  

As your life coach I wish to share the Magic of Christmas with you.  Yes, you too can have a Christmas that brings you “all is calm, all is bright.”   And although I referred to it as magical, clearly even magic is planned and practiced.

Here is where to start:

1. Be still for a few moments and take a deep breath.
2. Close your eyes and imagine Christmas.
3. Decide what is really important to you.  

What do you enjoy? Is it the baking, the decorating, finding the right Christmas cards, the Nutcracker? Is it watching Christmas specials with your children or grandchildren, the music, parties, finding a needy family or children to buy gifts for or chopping down the tree?
Is it making that donation to your favorite charity, playing secret Santa?

4. Think abouat what takes your joy away:

Attending too many parties, when you really would rather not. Buying gifts out of obiligation, instead of from the heart. The Mall!
Worrying about the 5 to 10 extra pounds that seem to appear by January 1st. Frantically wrapping gifts Christmas Eve.
Being alone during the holiday, running up your credit card debt and blowing your Christmas budget. Have you abandoned those healthy habits you really want, like getting plenty of sleep and enough physical activity?

I can see some of you nodding.  Well, there’s good news. You can change, you can choose.  You can learn to say no, to the good and yes to what’s best.

Take proactive steps to create your own magical Christmas:

1. Decide what activities are most important and enjoyable.  Eliminate the ones that are not.
2.  Set a budget and stick to it.
3. Make a gift list and stick to it.
4. Plan ahead, set aside specific times and days for shopping, baking and make a grocery list.  Stick to it.
5. Give your local bakery chance.  You really do not have to do it all.
6. Read something inspirational to remember the true meaning of Christmas.
7. Start a new tradition or renew an old one.
8. Spend some time at the end of each day for reflection.
9. Listen to music you love.
10.Get a massage, take a bubble bath.  Take care of you!

So have yourself a merry little Christmas and remember, the true joy of Christmas is in the spirit of rejoicing and generosity. The Bethlehem manger is much, much more than a historical milestone; it is an unfolding promise to all who believe.

I hope you sing carols at the top of your voice as we remember the true meaning of Christmas this season.

iflourishcoaching.com