It’s easy to get a romanticized notion of the holidays. Everything – from greeting cards to novels to holiday movies – tells us how wonderful and perfect the Christmas season should be. For many people, however, it’s far from being wonderful and perfect. Problems like financial stress or the loss of a loved one can put a severe damper on what should be a joyful time.
If you’ve experienced Christmases like this but want this year to be different, here are some things you can do to bring back the joy.
• Give of yourself. If you’re down, this is the last thing you’ll feel like doing, but nothing can pull you out of the doldrums like giving to others. You know what skills you have; how can you use them to benefit someone less fortunate? Maybe you’re short on time (and skills, perhaps). If so, you can donate money to your favorite charities, give non-perishable food to your local food bank, or give clothes your kids have outgrown to local foster groups. Look beyond your town — and even your country — and consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International.
• Throw a Christmas caroling party. Invite some friends and family over for snacks, hot cider, and a musical walk through the neighborhood. It’ll be a lot of fun – not only for your group, but for your neighbors, as well.
• Put up outdoor Christmas lights. It’s a peaceful, beautiful, and sometimes humorous way to spread cheer to those driving by.
• Spend time with your family just playing games, talking, or watching holiday TV shows. Find out when the old Christmas specials are on and watch them together.
• Bundle up the family, toss ‘em in the car, and drive around to look at Christmas lights. Some neighborhoods have contests to see who can decorate the best for Christmas – these are the ones you’ll want to tour. Don’t forget to play Christmas music while driving, and have some hot cider (or cocoa) when you get home.
• Send out Christmas cards. Drink hot chocolate and play Christmas music while signing the cards and addressing the envelopes.
• Bake cookies – lots of them. Take extras to your neighbors or any shut-ins that you know.
• Eat as healthy as possible. Maybe it’s not the best timing for this one — right after the “bake cookies” suggestion — but please take it to heart. When we’re down, most of us want to eat, and women, more than men, tend to reach for 
sweets. Sugar may make us feel comforted and even happy at first, but the “crash” soon follows, and we end up feeling worse than before.
• Go see a current holiday movie or catch a local theater group’s rendition of “A Christmas Carol” (or the new Disney 3-D animated version starring Jim Carrey).
• Attend a musical Christmas production at a local church. It could also be a great way to make some new friends.
• Remember the real reason for the season: Jesus Christ, who humbled Himself and came to us as a baby to save us from our sins. Read the Christmas story in Luke 1-2:39 aloud to your family…or just to yourself. Thank Him for His gift of salvation.
If you’re lacking joy this Christmas season, I hope these suggestions bring back the glimmer of hope and happiness for you. Merry Christmas!
©2009 Sally Dinius
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Sally Dinius is writer-in-chief for CrazyBusy Mama.com, a blog created to inspire and motivate busy mamas everywhere to feel healthy, fit, and in control of their lives.
