Mend a broken
relationship with a friend or relative during the holidays.
Every night of the Christmas season, before going to bed, ask yourself, "Whose
life did I make brighter today?"
Give your toddler the honor of placing the star or angel on the top of the Christmas
tree.
Try the Swedish custom of writing a short, lighthearted poem on each of your gift cards that
half reveals the contents of the package.
Take a holiday family photograph each year in the same spot, such as by a favorite
tree in your yard. In the years to come you'll not only have a wonderful record of the growth of
your family, but also of your tree.
Tell your children about Christmas when you were their age.
Offer to run
Christmas errands for an elderly friend or relative.
Record a cheerful Christmas greeting for your answering machine.
Remember that Christmas
carols never sound better than when you sing them in church.
Tip someone who doesn't expect it.
End an evening with family and close friends by forming a circle, holding hands and
singing a favorite carol.
Reserve a night for the entire family to make ornaments for your tree.
Set aside some
time at the beginning of the holiday season to help your children plan their gift-giving lists.
On a clear night,
find the bright North Star and recall the story of the Wise Men.
Open Christmas cards
as a family activity each night at the dinner table. Read the messages aloud.
Toast your friends when
they are in your home. Tell them how much it means to have them there.
This Christmas, write
letters to several people who have had a positive influence on your life. Thank them for this gift
they have given you.
Take a decorated miniature Christmas tree to someone in a hospital or nursing home.
Secretly shovel
the snow off your neighbor's front walk.
Instead of giving gifts at the office, take up a collection to donate to a designated
charity.
If you have friends who have lost family members since last Christmas, make a special effort
to call and cheer them during the holidays.
Begin a Christmas journal. Write down memories your family will share: events
you attend, presents you give and receive, the inevitable crises that occur.
Don't try to do everything
yourself. Remember, even Santa has helpers.
Take time to remember that the greatest holiday gift is a home filled with the
people you love.
