Getting into the Christmas Holiday Spirit

Christmas can mean many different things to people. For some there is a natural rush of good cheer when the holidays roll around. For others, it just doesn't come that easily. Some people have to actually work at getting into the spirit. If you're one of those people, that's OK! It happens to most people one year or another. We have so much going on in our lives that it's hard to turn our minds away from those things and focus instead on the joy of the season. If you're finding it a bit hard to get your mental engine revved up for this Christmas, try some of my favorite suggestions. I think after just a few of them, you'll find yourself humming your favorite holiday tunes.

Indulge in Holiday Treats!:
It's at the top of my list for a reason. I'm crazy about sweets and special rich foods. It's a weakness of mine. The beauty of the holiday season is that I don't have to feel guilty about it at all. It's considered rude not to indulge in the treats your friends and family have gone to such trouble to bake. No matter what diet you've been on all year, you can take off without guilt and enjoy all of your favorite foods. It's making me smile even now to think of all the ham, mostacoilli, cheesecake and other naughty foods I'm going to be eating at Christmas. It's especially great to get to eat traditional foods that you only have on the holidays. This year, be an active participant in tasting and enjoying your favorite foods. It's sure to help you get into the holiday spirit.

Decorate Inside and Out:
Be the first one in your neighborhood this year to get the lights up and out on your house. If you can't decorate outside or live in an apartment, get some lights in your windows. By being the first, you're likely to avoid having to be on a ladder in the worst of weather. Most holiday lights are efficient nowadays. With that in mind, light them up every night and enjoy the warm glow and fell they put off. Don't stop at just lighting. Get out all your favorite Christmas decorations and hang them about inside your home. They're sure to make you smile whenever you walk inside and the reminder that it's the season will help you stay in a festive frame of mind.

Get a Griswald Tree this Year:
What I mean to say is, get as big of a tree as you have room for. You'll end up moving your furniture around and it's a bit of work but, it's so worth it. Take your time and decorate it with all of your favorite ornaments. When you open up the tree and your whole house smells like pine, it's sure to bring back wonderful Christmas memories and make you smile. Use plenty of lights on your tree and put a big star or a beautiful angel up on top of it. Just sitting back and watching it glow at night will help keep you in the holiday mood.

Get the train set out and working early:
As soon as you get your tree up, get your train set out. Few things take me back to Christmas as a kid the way getting out a train set and playing with it does. Sure, they're a pain to set up sometimes. If you don't have a set already nailed to boards, most tracks will come apart from time to time. That's OK! Get that old train set out and have the time of your life with it. If you can get a hold of some little plastic army men for the train to run over, even better! Just whatever you do, don't skip putting up your train if you have one. It's fun and it can make you feel like a kid again.

Turn on the Music!:
I'll never forget going to a diner with my brother once around Christmas. It was cold and wet outside and no one in this diner seemed to be in a particularly good mood. I went over and put some coins in the juke box and chose all of my favorite Christmas songs. It was almost magic. By the second verse of the first song, the waitresses that had looked nothing short of crabby only moments earlier, had a bounce in their step. In no time at all , everyone working and most of the customers had smiles and were singing along. Music is great like that. It can get you into a fantastic mood in no time at all. This holiday season don't just rely on the radio in the car. Play music every chance you get. Get out all your old favorite holiday records and dust them off for a play. It can be magic, it really can!

Shop in a Crowded Mall:
You don't really have to even buy anything. Just getting out and doing some window shopping at Christmas time is an event in itself. I love to people watch at malls. It's so much fun to see so many different types of people all in a buzz trying to find that perfect gift. Even if you don't have any small children, get over and see the Santa in your mall. It's sure to bring back memories and seeing Santa Claus might give you a nudge to be a secret Santa yourself. Don't dread it this year. Instead, make a fun time of getting to the mall. Stop at the food court and have yourself a hot chocolate. And remember, never pass on free food samples or treats. It is the holiday season after all.

Get out in the cold weather:
If it snows, get out and go sledding or skiing. If you're not that athletic, be the first to build a snowman or lay in the snow and make a snow angel. A snowy night is a perfect excuse for a small bonfire. Bonfires are a perfect excuse for smoars. Ut oh, I know where I'm going with this again. Focus! The idea is to not let bad weather get you down. Instead, let it be a part of bringing you into the holiday spirit. If you're lucky enough to live where you get a chill in the air at this time of year, enjoy it . Bundle up and do whatever makes you smile and think of Christmas.

Watch Favorite Holiday Movies:
Make an event of it. Pop some popcorn or bake some cookies first. If you have a fireplace, get the fire going and have plenty of wood at hand to keep it going. Get your favorite old blankets out and fluff up a bunch of pillows. Cozy into your spot and watch your favorite Christmas movies. Try to choose the ones that you loved best as a child. They're sure to help get you into the holiday spirit and keep you smiling through the evening. You should also be sure and watch the Christmas shows on television. There's a certain special feeling you get watching Rudolph and Frosty and all of the others. Be sure not to skip any of them this year if possible.

Buy or Create a special Gift:
No matter how many people there are in your life that you love, choose one. Think about that person and all the things they love. After you've really focused on that particular person, go out and buy them something very special. Even better would be to actually make them something very special. Most important is to make sure that the gift is unique and personal to the person you're gifting it to. Go all out on the gift. It doesn't matter if you can't afford anything expensive. Go all out in thinking and planning the gift. When you make the effort to make someone you love happy, the Christmas spirit has already grabbed you and you didn't even know it. Enjoy it and run with it!

Do something kind for a stranger:
Few things are going to make you feel better than being kind to a stranger. When you give of yourself to a stranger , it makes you feel wonderful inside. The smallest kindness can bring you the greatest feelings and put you into the Christmas spirit quicker than anything. This year, if you're healthy and okay, do something kind or special for someone that needs a lift. You don't have to spend any money or jump over any tall buildings. Just giving a few minutes of your time to someone that needs a shoulder to lean on is a beautiful thing. The best key to getting into the spirit by giving your time, is to do it with no expectations at. Give greetings to everyone you can this year and give smiles just as freely. The spirit will overcome you when you see all the smiles you get in return.

Adopt a Pet or a Neighbor:
Take care of somebody. It doesn't matter how you do it or who you do it with. When you give of yourself to a person or a pet, the rewards are unmeasurable. If you have the space and time for a pet, adopt one from your local rescue center. Get that puppy home and put a pretty red ribbon on it. If you haven't time or space for a pet, adopt a neighbor! Decide on a neighbor that seems lonely and surely needs a friend. Do whatever you can for this person. Small efforts can bring on fantastic smiles and hugs. The more you give of yourself and your time, the more you're sure to find the holiday spirit this Christmas.

I hope these tips come in handy for you this year. You have to actually get up off of your sofa or chair and do a few things to really get the full effect. I'm sure if you try even a small handful of these tips, the Christmas holiday spirit will fill you from the tip of your pointy elf toes to the top of your Santa Clause cap! Happy Holidays!