As 2016 draws to a close, I find myself wondering where the year went. Time seems to race by faster each year and I can’t believe another twelve months have passed. But, is time really moving faster or is it the pace of our lives that has accelerated? Perhaps, it’s a bit of both.

However, in December all that changes. This is one of my favourite times of the year – mostly because I get a month’s holiday every December. However, it’s also a special season for a number of other reasons, as it’s a time to…

Give, share and love – Christmas and December is a time to give, share and show people that you care. And, I’m not just talking about physical gifts, but also about giving of yourself. December finds me in the kitchen cooking up a storm of tasty treats or delectable dishes for the people I love most. I enjoy spoiling my friends and family, spending time with them and showing them that I value and appreciate them. But, this applies to other people too, such as your acquaintances, employees and even the man in the street. Small, random acts of kindness can often make a big difference to someone else’s life – and December is a good time to remember that. As Mother Teresa so wisely said, “It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving” that counts.

Be thankful – and appreciate life’s many blessings, no matter how big or small. It’s often easy to overlook our blessings as we focus on everything that’s supposedly wrong or needs to be improved in our lives. Yet, no matter what position you may find yourself in, there’s always something to be grateful for. December is a wonderful time to reflect with gratitude on all that you are, all that you have and everyone who is sharing your journey through life.

Relax – and even squander time. Everything slows down in December and I love the long, lazy, summer days. After all, as the wise adage says, “time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time”. At the end of another busy year, it’s good to be able to power down your systems and do a bit of a reboot, while you forget about work and your responsibilities for a while.

Laugh – this is the season for laughter and cheer, for jokes around the table and lighthearted antics. It’s a time to let your inner child out and even be a little silly. With Advent calendars, Christmas crackers, twinkling lights, champagne, good food, party hats, mistletoe (which is actually a ‘parasitic poop twig’ according to some online sources), pantomimes, secret Santa, and finding out who’s been naughty or nice, there are plenty of reasons to smile in the holiday season.

December is a magical time, whether you’re sipping cocoa watching the snowflakes fall outside, driving around to see all the Christmas lights, indulging in your child’s delight or simply gazing into the eyes of a loved one.

Christmas is what you make it – and how you project this feeling and share it with others. So, find something that brings you joy this festive season – and take the time to give joy to others. My happy place is simply lying under my Christmas tree and gazing up at all the lights. That alone is enough to bring me immense joy and the truth is that you can give plenty of joy in equally small packages.

As Maya Angelou said, “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”.

© 2016 Audrey Whyte   All Rights Reserved