The Magic of the Season

“Peace on earth will come to stay when we live Christmas every day.”  -Helen Steiner Rice

We live in a time when the joy of anticipation has been largely forgotten, replaced by instant gratification. If we want something, we buy it… and it can usually be at our doorstep within a day or two. Conversely, Christmas becomes a place in time where attitudes are filled with excitement in anticipation. For children, the magic is often concentrated in opening those long-awaited gifts that miraculously appear under the tree. 

For adults, there is usually a different kind of magic, separate from decorating our homes with Christmas trees, lights, garlands, and stockings, and filling it with new gifts. The real magic that comes with the Christmas season is an attitude of kindness, generosity, and a genuine caring attitude for others. At a point in our lives, we become a little less selfish and a little more concerned about those around us. In this moment, we can be filled with childlike humility and wonder as we turn our attention to others and are filled with love.

One simple way to feel the magic of the holiday is to go outside the night before Christmas and feel both the peace and excitement of the night. If you stay still and quiet, in an almost meditative mindset, you may more fully experience the special atmosphere that only comes at this time of year. This is a great opportunity to reflect on your own thoughts and feelings in the midst of this hectic season and remember the reasons behind the holiday.

How do you work to feel the magic of this season?