As the Halloween sugar coma fades away and we prepare to “fall back” an hour, the holiday season rapidly approaches and we make our way into the second week of November.
With Thanksgiving only three weeks away, the crazy retail hoopla of the holiday season nears closer and people prepare their wallets for what’s up ahead.
But isn’t the holiday season really about giving thanks and giving back? Last time I checked, there was no price tag attached to showing appreciation and sharing kindness with others.
Before the retail circus begins, start rejoicing in the true meaning of the holiday season with two simple but sweet and free tips.
First tip: Enjoy the moments and the beauty between point A and point B. As students’ schedules get busier, homework and exams seem never ending, work loads get more demanding, and sleeping hours get trimmed — life becomes “point A” to “point B”-oriented.
When life gets jam-packed with responsibilities, it seems as if days are lived to get from class to class, to finish project to project, to take exam to exam and to take care of responsibility to responsibility. It is easy to feel like a hamster spinning on a wheel, going round and round in a monotonous circle that never ends.
When I find myself living my days with this point A to point B mentality, I am so fixated on driving to work on time or hiking up the CCB stairs quickly that I am completely oblivious to the beauty and nature around me. I’ve had days when I have been so fixated on getting to my destination that I have not even noticed the ocean, the sunset, the clouds or the green hills surrounding me.
Is this any way to live life? Are my personal responsibilities and stresses so important that I must ignore God’s creation and the others sharing His creation with me?
Although it sounds ridiculous, I often need this smack-in-the-face reality check because I can become so engrossed with my personal daily tasks that I am completely oblivious to my surroundings. I must remind myself that no task is too great for God to handle.
The next time you feel yourself slipping back into that point A to point B mindset just stop, take a moment to breathe in, and enjoy the world around you. Life is short and can quickly pass you by if you don’t take the moments to appreciate the beauty around you.
Second tip: Ask someone, friend or stranger, “How are you?” and actually mean it. The question “How are you?” is so overused that it gets rolled into a casual greeting said countless times throughout the day. But what does it really mean? Do people actually answer honestly or even care to listen to the answer?
As mentioned before, life’s tasks can become so overwhelming that we can become consumed in our own responsibilities and completely ignore the other individuals with whom we share the planet. Often I must remind myself that I cannot do life all by myself, but I need to rely on the comfort and support of others as well as offer my comfort and support in return.
Sometimes it actually catches me off guard when someone genuinely asks me, “How are you?” and they linger around past the typical two-second greeting period because they actually want to know what I am doing and how I feel.
This simple act of kindness and caring can make a big difference during my stressful days. Everyone wants to be listened to and cared about, and taking the time out of your day to ask someone how they are and be genuine about the feeling behind the inquiry can make a big impact.
Remember, you never know how much stress or anxiety someone may actually be going through. But by giving a few minutes of your time and acknowledging another person’s wellbeing, you can shed a positive light on his or her otherwise hectic day.
Appreciating life’s simple gifts and sharing positive words with others are two free ways to start rejoicing in the holiday season. After all, there shouldn’t be a special season for being kind: Giving back and conveying gratitude are two overlooked and underappreciated year-round expressions.
