More Cheering, Less Jeering: The Holiday Guide

It's that time again: chilly winter days and warm drinks, crazy traffic, and a gazillion crazed consumers making a run on every shoppe in town. The holiday season is upon us!

I recall some of my own personal holiday moments from last year's feeding frenzy. The warmth, the friends, the generosity. All good stuff. And then there was the road rage, and various rumors about angry shoppers injuring each other, and people generally forgetting what the holidays are all about. That's not so good. In fact, it sucks.

In the interest of promoting the good stuff and avoiding the rest, here are some ideas to carry into your holidays:


1. Consider a gift exchange.

A segment from my local church group got together and traded names last year. This limited the cost and ensured everyone participating got a little something. Even better, it gave us the chance to spend some extra time with those closest to us. That's something you just can't put under the tree. 

This concept worked so well for us, we're doing it again this year.


2. Slow down and take it easy.

Have you noticed what happens as the holidays get closer? We have less time. People become frenetic, tempers erupt. I witnessed a striking example last year while navigating a jammed parking lot at a local bookstore. A large truck pushed one way while I and another motorist were coming the other way. The space was narrow, with no place to turn around. In response to the impasse, the truck driver leaned from his window and breathed such a vapid stream of curses and insults at the poor guy behind me that I was stunned. I sat there wondering: "Is this the holiday spirit that we treasure so much?"

So, yes. Slow down. Refuse to be rushed. ENJOY your holiday. If you can't do that, something's broken. This kind of stress is not what the holidays should be made of.

Sound hard? Just remember Maestro's golden rule here: "A bad attitude on your part does not constitute a problem on my part." I'm having MY merry Christmas whether the guy in the truck does or not.


3. Go to church.

I know, this may not be your "thing", but just try it anyway. Visit your local house of faith and publicly express your thanks. Do it throughout this next month. Sound crazy? Consider the crappy attitudes and stress from the previous point. It's very difficult to treat other people like dirt when you're thankful for what you've got. If you think you've got nothing, then pray for somewhat to be thankful about. I guarantee something will come of it. As an added bonus, the prayer and thankfulness will help with with the slowing down and taking it easy, too.


4. Turn off the television for a bit. The computer too.

True, those Christmas stories are a part of the Grand Tradition. But try this: gather the family around, crack open that Dickens story(or your bible, or whatever) and read it from the source. If you don't feel like you're up to it, find someone with a good reading voice. Or simply take turns and pass the book around. This may sound crazy in our "Information Age", but as Robert Allen so aptly states it, "Time is the currency of the new millennium".

Remember what I said about the gift exchange? It applies here as well. The people closest to you may value your money and that shiny new present, but I bet they'll value your time more. Spend a generous amount of it on them.


5. Plan ahead next year.

After the rush, rumble, flurry, and fury of the holidays is behind us, we'll have a whole shiny new year ahead. Take some time each month to plan ahead of your holidays. You'll be able to make many of your purchases and arrangements before time becomes an issue, and you can avoid some of the "run and gun" guerrilla tactics used by the less cheerful holiday celebrants.

Merry Christmas and Happy holidays!