I must admit I’m one of those people who actually like Christmas – yes the commercialism of it all irks me as does the obscene amount of spending for just one day – always leaves me feeling guilty. Yet still i indulge.
What I like most is the idea of being ‘forced’ to ‘stop’ down tools and just be still reflecting on the outgoing year or decade which is a big deal.
I am also aware that this time of year can be the loneliest for individuals who have no one thinking about them or to spend time with. It can also be fraught with navigating difficult family relationships particularly if you’ve ‘successfully’ avoided them all year.
So what does this time of year mean to you? How can you make the holiday season more enjoyable and meaningful? Here are 6 suggestions!
1) The gift of giving doesn’t have to be an expensive foray – the giving of your time whether it’s a phone call, (yes i said it a phone call) or popping around to see someone you’ve been meaning to. Or paying attention to a person you care about emotionally.
As you know time is finite you cannot ‘purchase’ more than 24hrs but you can give some of it away to someone in need.
2) Consider inviting someone to share an experience with you, something completely out of their comfort zone e.g helping out in a community kitchen or garden, spending time walking with a group of people that you would not consider ‘their type’. With the hope that they might enjoy it and make it thing to do regularly.
3) Hold a fee paying event at your home and invite a musician or a student artist to perform and donate funds to a charity suggested by your group of friends or neighbours.
4) Have a ‘cook up’ where everyone helps using what you already have in the kitchen and see what you come up with!
5) Hold a Secret Santa with a minimum budget – family members or friends are allowed to re-gift it, to charity with no offence taken or swap it on the day. Be open about it, show gratitude and pass it forward.
6) Finally do nothing at all. Be thankful that you live to see another year and reflect on what 2020 could possibly bring.
All of us here at Partnership for Growth are grateful for your company this year! and we hope that we can inspire you to live an even better 2020 – TAKE CARE BE SAFE see you on the other side!
