4 Rewarding Ways to Spread Holiday Cheer

Are you looking for ways to spread holiday cheer this year? It doesn’t have to be expensive, hard, or time-consuming. Try one of these four ways and see if you don’t get some holiday cheer in return.

Thanksgiving is just a few days away. I’m so excited to hang out with my husband’s family around a full table of delicious food and enjoy a few days off of work. This weekend we’ll start our annual holiday traditions.

Christmas is absolutely my favorite time of year. Each year, we get a live Christmas tree, decorate it along with all of our living spaces, and prepare for the great day that is December 25. My favorite holiday tradition is how we spend Christmas Eve.

I begin the night by taking my family on a car ride to see all of the Christmas lights. It’s something my parents used to do when my brother and I were growing up. We listened to Christmas music along the way and fantasized about all of the things Santa would bring us after we went to sleep.

When we returned home, we would bake cookies for Santa and leave them out with a glass of cold milk. My brother and I would have a sleepover in our parents’ bedroom and fall asleep watching one of our favorite Christmas movies. It’s amazing that we could even fall asleep with all of the anticipation of Santa’s visit or the presents he would leave us.

I want to share with you a few ways to spread cheer and show gestures of care during the holiday season.

1. Write

When is the last time you sent a hand-written card? Not many people do that these days. Most of my friends and I keep in touch via text message or Facebook. It’s usually older aunts and grandparents that send and value receiving a card in the mail. Surprise someone and make their day. You never know. It just might be the only card they receive.

2. Volunteer

The shelters, soup kitchens, nursing homes, and food pantries are likely looking for some extra hands this season. It would be a great experience for you and your family to play games or read to children, help serve meals, play games or talk to residents, and help organize or distribute food. Do you know What Homeless Shelters Really Need This Time of Year?

3. Give

Adopt an angel from the Angel Tree, donate toys to Toys for Tots, give your spare change to The Salvation Army, or make a donation to your favorite charity. Perform a RAOK (random act of kindness): leave $1 bills around a dollar store (especially in the toy section!), pay for the person behind you in the drive-thru, or tape money on the outside of a vending machine with a note that says “This treat’s on me!”

A few Christmases ago, my husband’s hours had just been reduced. I was so humbled and grateful that a $50 grocery store gift card showed up in my mailbox in a holiday card. At a time when I wasn’t sure how I was going to survive, that random act of kindness warmed my heart and gave me hope.

4. Protect

The day before school started in August, I had to take my son to urgent care with a sore throat, cold-, and flu- symptoms. He had strep throat and missed the entire first week of school. He was bummed!

Last week, my daughter began complaining that her jaw and ear were hurting. But she didn’t have a fever. This often happens when she gets a cold in the late fall/early winter. I took her to the doctor’s office. Turns out she had an ear infection. Within 24 hours, she was feeling much better and could return to school.

I’ve had to protect my kids from both strep throat and ear infection within a 90 day period!

So, this holiday season, I would definitely rather spread cheer than germs. How do we plan on doing that? Hand washing, not sharing eating utensils, and using Kleenex® tissues.

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How do you and your family spread holiday cheer?