Do "this" instead of "that"...

I love the spirit of the holidays but I am not a fan of what they have become. I am not sure if my disenchantment is because of accumulating birthdays, the fact I now live alone, or if it is a consequence of all the loss I have experienced. When I think about what has become the norm for this holy season I actually almost start cringing.

I propose, to all of you, that we start a movement; one which will have us stop and think before we do ‘that’ thing which everyone else is doing and that we do ‘this’ instead…

• Instead of asking your family for a list of things they want this year, could we take some time to donate clothing, toys to families who are in need?
• Instead of overspending on gifts for people who neither need nor want them, can we donate an equal amount or more to a charitable organization?
• Instead of feeling like we have to sit down and send out greeting cards to everyone on our mailing list, could we pick up the phone to call a family member or friend who needs to talk?
• Instead of using the holidays as an excuse to over indulge on all the food in sight, can we put down the cookies and go for a short walk outside?
• Instead of stressing out about trying to attend all the parties or maybe even hosting our own, could we put a little time into volunteering somewhere?
• Last of all, instead of giving up on the year and beating ourselves up for not achieving all of our big goals, can we carve out some quiet time for gratitude, by writing down our blessings and start envisioning how we can make the next year a little better?

Remember that the reason for this season has nothing to do with ‘stuff’ and has everything to do with love, forgiveness, and how we can be God’s light for others every day. Let us set the example for the next generations to focus on being grateful and serving others.

Some examples of places/ways to donate/volunteer locally:

• Community clothes closets
• Orphanages
• Angel Tree
• Food banks
• Immigrant centers
• Homeless shelters
• Centers for abused women/children
• Churches
• Check your area for opportunities