As an abiding Quaker, I take time to reflect on how I feel about the upcoming holiday season. I truly believe that every day is to be celebrated and that no one day in my life has any more value than any other. If I start and end each day with gratitude, nothing that happens in between has the power to ruin tomorrow.
In order to keep Christmas the way I want it to be, I follow the examples of other Quakers:
Keep it short: Ignore it until it is truly here. That means driving with the car radio turned off, staying out of the malls, and ignoring the advertising in November.
Keep it beautiful: Take an evening and go out and admire the lights. Walk in the stillness of snowfall at night. Look for the crystals in the sunlit trees at dawn.
Keep it simple: Debt has no part of Christmas. The main verb of Christmas shouldnt be buy. Create, connect, appreciate, share, sing.
Keep it charitable: There is always need. Find one that you can fill.
Keep it religious: It is a Christian holiday. Respect and enjoy the traditions of others, even if their way of observing is different than yours.
Keep it balanced: Be sociable but find time to be still.
Keep it traditional: Bring forward traditions from your childhood. Make room for new traditions to begin.
However you celebrate, make these last days of the year yours to enjoy.
Happy new year, loved the blog, these are some really useful tips. Thank you for sharing them with us.
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