Have you lost the meaning of Christmas?
If you think the shopping, food and parties have become the
symbols of this special holiday, here are some tips to help you
get back the meaning of what Christmas is really about.

a) Give Back-
Want to give back in a festive way? Make glittering wishes for the World.
Pick up a few stars at the dollar or crafts store and have loved ones write
a “wish for the World” on them. Write something like “save the planet”
or “peace and joy to everyone,” then hang these stars on your tree or in your
windows. And after that, do something to make your loved ones wishes a
reality, for instance: If your town has a day of cleaning up a local park,
volunteer to help pick up leaves and other debris.
Also, take a look at your message a few times throughout the year, to
help you remember it.

b) Share These Acts of Kindness-
Whether it’s random or un-random acts of kindness, doing something for
others will really unleash a wave of Christmas joy in you. If you know
someone who can’t make it to the community bake-a-thon, bring him or
her some cookies, or if your town sings carols and lights the tree, snap some
photos and bring the photos to a loved one unable to get out due to a disability
or illness.

c) Make Up Some Coupons-
Although not as popular as they were 10 to 12 years ago, many people still value
coupons, and if you’re short on money and want to give someone something special
and meaningful, give him or her coupons. For instance, buy a small notepad and
write out free baking coupons, play board games coupons, stay in and bake
coupons, shop for items for scrapbooking coupons and give it to a grandchild,
daughter, niece or neighbor.
Giving young people these types of gifts help them realize that an expensive
phone isn’t that important, but time with you is.

d) Give These Types of Gifts-
Just like the previous post, many people treasure gifts from the heart.
One woman who had beautiful handwriting, gifted some church members
their favorite bible verses done with her handwriting. Or take a favorite saying
or song lyric, frame it (with a dollar store frame) and gift it to a loved one.

e) Make Up Stories Now-
Too many parents lament about how fast kids grow up, one way to preserve
those special moments is to create a journal, scrapbook or a real book. If your child
loves to swim, have him or her create a book chronicling their time in the pool.
They could place photos in the book and then put a little text underneath it
and as they get older, they could look back on it and reminiscent. Or do one
on all of the kids and have them present it to grandma and grandpa.

Sources:
* Virginia Brucker, Creator of WeBelieve.ca
* Toni Anderson, Founder of The Happy Housewife
* Simple Acts To Save Our Planet, Magazine
* Down To Earth, Magazine
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One last reminder: To all of the last minute shoppers, if you need help getting
that special loved one a gift and are still undecided, head to the top
of this blog and hit the buy button, look for the first E-Doc called
The Procrastinator’s Guide To Last-Minute Christmas Shoppers,
or go to Amazon.com/the kindle store and get it there, under the same title.