Merry Christmas!

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There is a feeling this time of year that is unmistakable and memorable. For those of us who grew up in Christian homes, the smells of evergreen, hot spiced cider and pumpkin pie can take us back to the feelings of Christmas past. Christianity isn't the only tradition that celebrates the return of the Light at this time of year. Pagan traditions burn the Yule log in anticipation of the return of longer days. There is also Hanakkah, Kwanzaa, the Islamic New Year.

As a child growing up, I noticed each year at this time that people's hearts seemed to be a bit more open. Even during those rushed times when they were doing the last minute shopping, baking and decorating, there was a spirit of good will and generosity. I also remember wondering why people didn't seem to continue to have that open-heartedness and cheerfulness after Christmas was over. I thought it was sad, and every year I tried to maintain those feelings for as long after the holidays as I could.

People these days are often lacking Christmas joy and cheer it seems. The rush and the crowds seem to irritate more than anything. We can't do anything to change people's attitudes and make them more pleasant. However, we can do much about our own attitudes during this holiday season--and all year long.

Last summer we had three to four weeks of blistering hot weather down here in the South. For weeks the temperatures climbed well above 100 dangerously hot degrees. The weather people were forecasting little hope for relief, and I was feeling very low and very worried about how we would make it through the long hot days. It wasn't just me I was worried about. I've observed how hot temps cause tempers to flare. People do mean things when we're in the middle of a heat wave that they wouldn't ordinarily do.

Wondering what I could do to give myself a little relief from the doldrums I was in, I put a simple post on my Facebook page--"Merry Christmas! I'm going out to play in the snow!" I had no idea how much fun my Facebook friends would have as a result of that silly little post. After being gone for a couple of hours I checked back on Facebook. I was amazed at what I found. My friends had built a snow fort, made snow angels, had snowball fights and built a snowman--all in my make believe snow. What a simple thing to bring relief from the heat and a little fun into the day!

The Saturday before Thanksgiving I was at the grocery store with my little 83-year-old mother. Grocery shopping with her is a long, drawn out, tedious affair for me on a normal Saturday. But, of course, the Saturday before a holiday meant the store was packed. The aisles, too narrow anyway, were packed with people scrambling to find their baking needs, and I could tell some of them were getting irritated at the slower, elderly shoppers-my mom included. I was helping a young couple find what they were looking for, and finally just barked, "Happy Holidays!" Everyone on the aisle heard me and started to laugh. I like to think that at least those few people had a more enjoyable time finishing up their shopping.

Sometimes it's the simplest-and even silliest-thing to change a dull day into a happy day, a frown into a smile. And it doesn't cost a thing. I think we owe it to ourselves and to each other not to miss an opportunity to brighten our world.

So Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanakkah, Blessed Yule, Happy, Happy, Happy-from me to you!