The holiday season is in full swing. In keeping with the magical spirit of the month I am sharing 15 Ways to Spread Joy Through the Holidays!

Good morning friends, it is the most wonderful time of the year but it is also one of the busiest time of year. Between holiday parties, baking, buying, wrapping and mailing presents and all of the other items on our seemingly endless to-do list the busy season seems to fly by. That is why it is so important to not only experience joy this season but also to share the holiday spirit and spread it around like glitter. Today I am sharing 15 ways to spread joy through the holidays and beyond.

Spreading joy is the gift that keeps giving. It not only makes you happy but the receiver as well, who often times goes on to spread joy in his or her own way creating a ripple of joy and happiness in its wake. A simple act of kindness, the donation of spare change, working for the local toy drive is a small meaningful way to make the season special and joyful.

15 Ways to Spread Joy Through the Holidays

1.Pay it forward: at the tolls, at your local coffee shop or bakery. Simply give the cashier some money to pay for the order of the person behind you. It is an easy way to make someone’s day.

2.Shovel snow for an elderly neighbor, take their trash cans to the curb or drop their newspaper on their porch. Small acts of kindness and service cost nothing but mean so much to those having a difficult time.

3. Spend time baking with your kids, or grand-kids, then pack up some of the cookies on little plates or in holiday tins. Have your kids distribute them to elderly neighbors and friends. A small gesture like this is a simple yet heartfelt way to say Merry Christmas and to spread holiday cheer this Christmas season.

4. Deck the outside of your house with lights, garland, flowers, signs and blow-ups and other holiday decorations to bring joy not only to you but too all of your neighbors too. The house across from us is beautifully decorated and every time I walk by the window and see it I smile.

5. Make homemade gifts or bake cookies for friends and family that you won’t be seeing this year. They will be so happy to open a box of sweet treats that will make them feel as if they are celebrating the holidays with you. Sugar cookies and chocolate chip cookies are family favorites.

6. Send Christmas cards by “snail mail” instead of a text or email. Yes, the later are convenient, but nothing compares to a beautiful hand-written holiday card or personal note.

7. Send cards or care packages to military service members. Many of our service members are a long way from home and a simple greeting or package filled with sweet treats and a small gift will make being away from family and friends a little more bearable.

8. Smile, offer a compliment, a kind word or a holiday greeting to everyone you meet throughout your day. Make it a goal to offer a compliment or friendly greeting to at least 5 people a day.

9. Crank up the music and play some Christmas carols in the car on your morning commute or in the house as you cook and clean. Sing along and maybe even dance, I guarantee that everyone in the house will join in. It is a simple way for the whole family to get into the holiday spirit.

10. Adopt a child, family or an elderly person to give Christmas gifts and food too. You can also take a name from the giving tree at church, school or a local charity. Then purchase a new toy or gift and wrap the items or gift cards requested. It is like being Santa Claus.

11. String Christmas lights around your bedroom and add a small Christmas tree with the lights on a timer so that when you go in to bed at night to read for a bit the lights are on. You can also set the timer so that the lights of the tree wake you in the morning. There is something magical about fairy lights and it’s a great way to life your spirits at the end of a long day.

12. Donate food or warm clothing to your local homeless shelters, local food banks, soup kitchen or animal shelters.

13. Give the gift of time: offer to babysit so parents can have a few hours to themselves, read to the elderly at a local nursing home, volunteer at the local animal shelter.

14. Call loved ones to chat and catch-up instead of sending texts. What better way than to let them know how much they are loved and missed. Be present that is the best present of all.

15. Surprise your service provider with a bottle or water, soft drinks, and some holiday treats. The mail carriers and delivery people are working overtime to make sure all of our packages arrive on time. Place a box or tray on the porch or near your mail box filled with water, soda, energy drinks, chips, granola bars, candy canes or whatever else you think they might enjoy.

These are just a few of the ways you can spread a little joy and holiday cheer this season. I am sure that you have a list of creative ways to keep the spirit of Christmas and offer joy and hope to those around you. Pease add your suggestions in the comments.

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Have a wonderful day my friends and remember that even though it is “the most wonderful time of the years” for some of us for others it is a challenging  and hard time. I encourage you to reach out to those who have a difficult time at the holidays and offer compassion and an open heart and mind. If you enjoyed 15 Ways to Spread Joy Through the Holidays, please share.

​Happy holidays and thank you for spending part of your day with me.

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