September…October…A little too soon to think about Christmas? I know it is a lot to stomach. Back to school displays have barely come down, Christmas goes up and we usurp Halloween and Thanksgiving. I have overheard similar complaints more than a few times while standing in line at the popular big box retailers. Even Facebook book friends have noticed the premature red and green push.
But still I have to admit there is something about the newness of the chill in the air, the crisp autumn smells and crunchy leaves that gets my inner child excited about the holiday season approaching. Just anticipating the baked goodies, gathering in the warmth with friends and family, and the surprises that come in nicely wrapped boxes gets me giddy.
That Ah-ha moment
I was doing some grocery shopping while plotting in my mind how to get innovative to surprise a friend who has everything. What could I do on my limited budget that would really mean something special to this person? Ah-ha, the ideas came flooding in. I thought of gifts that invoke the passion in her heart. They wouldn’t cost a lot but would be a vessel of creative expression that would enable her to share her unique soul’s essence with others. I knew the feelings of connectedness and passion associated with this gift would put a smile in her heart and a glow on her face.
I imagined this for a moment and didn’t realize how much I was beaming. I noticed everyone in the grocery store now smiling back at me. I felt my own heart swelling and heat radiating out of my chest. Suddenly the drama of the debates and ensuing election, the future of our country with this crisis and that crisis on the horizon exited my consciousness and in came a burst of joy mixed with great peace.
Then came the thought, what if we all lived as if each day was like Christmas? Regardless of your religious or spiritual beliefs, whether you celebrate this particular holiday or not, you can’t miss the fact that the energy in the world feels different on Christmas Day. There is a certain stillness that comes with millions of people taking time out of their routines to connect deeply with loved ones, giving the present of their presence. They anticipate the look on their loved one’s faces as they receive their gifts that come in many forms. I love feeling that the majority of our stress, chaos and frivolous distractions get pushed aside for the time being and people focus on what really matters in life. Being! We take time off from the over-do, do, do and just spend moments being, loving, connecting, sharing, laughing and nourishing each other. And we are all doing it together at the same time. The power of this type of group vibe is enormous.
How to create that spirit
I wondered how I would create each day with that holiday spirit state of mind. Then I recalled the book called 29 Gifts by Cami Walker. In it Walker, a busy ad executive and newlywed, receives a diagnosis of MS. She adopts a giving spirit regardless of her physical or emotional condition and encourages us to explore how a month of giving every day can change your life. Each day she was challenged to give something unexpected to someone else. It could be a material gift, a compliment, the gift of your time, love or energy. In this process Cami realizes how giving freely each day filled her life with joy and helped her overcome the many challenges associated with her disease.
The anticipation of others receiving my gifts always leaves me feeling abundant. Sometimes I imagine what it would be like to carry a magic wand and tap people adding a little sparkle to their lives. Especially to the homeless people or out-of-work veterans I see on the street, I send an energetic copy of myself out to tap their crown filling them with blessings in their aura. It is fun to watch their eyes twinkle and sometimes look at you like “ah-ha” as the Universal connection occurs. (It is also no coincidence that magic wands have been showing up for me in the “real” world too!)
So how can you use the gift of your Christmas magic today? Maybe just spend a few moments to wonder. You might revel in recreating the most joyous part of the holiday season, embodying the sparkle and radiating it out into your immediate environment. Try sending that energy ahead through the rest of your day. You’ll be amazed at what a gift you are being to the world and all of the ways this magical energy returns to you.
Namaste