The holidays are just about upon us. Here are some thoughts I'd like to share as you begin to wrap up 2019 and head into 2020, hopefully with 20-20 vision...
If you are fortunate enough to be able to shop for presents for family and friends, or food and drink for a party you may be having, consider buying local, buying handmade, buying from someone you know, buying from the self-employed.
The big stores don't jubilantly punch the air when they make a sale - your friendly local shopkeeper does. Send the little guy home to his kids dancing a jig, with a spring in his step and a warm feeling that it is indeed the season to be jolly.
If you are privileged enough to have surviving parents or grandparents, sit down with them for a good old chin-wag. Look them in the eye and tell them of your fondest memory of them. Ask them what you were like as a child. Trust me on this one - it feels like mulled wine warming your insides.
If you are blessed with many friends and get together a lot, consider inviting and involving one shy wallflower to each of your dos. There's a rock-solid BFF or quite possibly, the love of your life completely unknown to you hiding somewhere out there only because you didn't ask. Go ahead. Ask.
If you are lucky enough to be in the company of family and loved ones this holiday season and someone turns down an alcoholic drink you offer them, please don't insist they accept. You have no idea why they might be declining and how hard that might be for them. Please don't make it harder. Help them win whatever they're fighting. That's what friends are for.
When choosing presents, nothing is more personal or thoughtful than a carefully chosen book. Don't just tick off a bestseller list - do some digging. What would they like to read? Why didn't you know already? You'll be richer for having done that, as will your friend.
The humongous hug you get from the universe each time you do any one of those things comes for free.
And guess what? You can do all of the above all year next year too, and the year after.
Start today.
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