Thoughtful ways to make holidays meaningful

The holidays are upon us. Some ideas for making them super:

• Write notes of apology, or make a telephone call to reconnect. Reconciliation is the reason for the season, second only to family, but necessary for family life.

• Be true to yourself. You cannot give to others until you are authentic; search for the fullest of who you are, physically, intellectually and emotionally. Never give in to political correctness. Say Merry Christmas if that is, in fact, your wish. Your instincts are as sound as anybody else’s; better than most and way more solid than those who crave power or wealth. Power corrupts, always. Wealth destroys your empathetic tendencies, always.

• Empty yourself of all that robs you of joy, the sordid news, impeachment hearings, name calling and scandal. It may be time to cut off the TV talking heads altogether. You need to empty yourself of the evil stuff to allow the joy to have full access to your psyche.

• Remember Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters?  The told us in song to “Accentuate the positive; eliminate the negative.” It was a nice little ditty, embedded in sage advice. Find it for your playlist. Live it.

• Play with the dog whenever she wants to play. Play recklessly, the way dogs love to play. Dog people, such as myself, don’t know from cats, but cat lovers do and can act accordingly.

• Read stories to the children when they are in the mood, and as often as they want.

• Play with the children daily. Rough and tumble or soft and soothing, let their reaction be your guide.

• Listen to each family member when they want to talk. Ask intelligent, leading questions. Keep this dialogue going until your child is satisfied that her feelings have been understood. This exercise is applicable for any age, from 2 to 102.

• Listen to holiday music, alone and without distraction.

* Sing in the shower if you are, like the author, perpetually off-key or before others if you are unashamed of your voice, whether or not you can carry a tune. Be careful, though. There is a limit to the amount of bad music an ear can handle.

• Read Christmas stories that touch the soul. My favorite is O. Henry’s “Gift of the Magi.” Your favorite is probably better.

• Take a walk or drive around after dark to see the lights, for they and your songs will show you recognize the one true light. Only you will be able to see it, for such is unique to each individual.

• Cuddle.

• Honor your father, mother and, last but first, your spouse.

• Be kind in word, deed and body language. It is the least you can do, but, perhaps, the greatest of all.

• Seek moments of quiet. Use them to recharge. Keep a paper and pen nearby and in one of the moments, answer, in loving detail, this question: “Why am I glad to be alive today?”

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Dan Warner is a veteran newspaper writer and editor.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2qUJgSj