Now that Christmas Day has officially come and gone, it's important to understand that the holiday doesn't and shouldn't end here. You see, as many of you have probably noticed, with the Christmas season comes the immense desire to give, the desire to go out of your way for others, the desire to brighten someone's day.
This is what is so special about this particular holiday. People put aside the drama of both their lives and the world and simply focus on the positivity around them. Homes are filled with warmth, laughter and love, restaurants are packed with families visiting from near and far, quaint streets and towns are bustling with loved ones taking in the beauteous sites and decorations.
Now, if we had this all year, of course it wouldn't be as magical as it is when the season finally arrives; that's part of what makes this time of year so enjoyable and so highly anticipated. However, why does the kindness, the "going out of your way" for others, and the desire to spread smiles have to end as soon as we lay our heads down to sleep on Christmas night?
After all, Christmas is about celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through the words of the widely used phrase, "What Would Jesus Do?" we must stop to take a moment and think about how He would not want us to limit our good will to one month of the year. Our kindness and good intentions should be used constantly throughout the entirety of the year; that's indeed what keeps the world spinning.
You don't have to go crazy running around buying coffee for people or making a different person cookies every day; it's the little things that mean the most. Letting someone know you think they're doing a great job, supporting a friend in a time of need, showing up to an event you really don't want to go to but you know it means the world to someone you care about. It's not difficult to put in the tiny bit of extra effort to make someone's day better. What goes around comes around, too.
When you give freely and openly with no expectations, you start to appreciate the things that people do for you more as well. You see how good it makes people feel when you give to them, and in turn you're able to understand that feeling when people give back to you.
The Christmas season is all about giving, but please, let's not limit the love to one month out of the year. The world needs a little TLC, and you can be the first step in spreading it.
