It is winter and absolutely freezing outside, so we all tend to curl up next to the fire. But we also tend to pull out our phones and scroll through social media for hours.
We post, share, like, and comment. We zone out what is around us and focus all of our attention on these apps. Some of us share amazing testimonies and good news whereas some of us share content that might not be as uplifting and positive.
In church this morning, my pastor said, "When things aren't exactly going your way, try turning to God before you post on Facebook and see how much your life changes." Today was also the third day of Advent and the entire sermon was about joy, what it means, and how we can share it with everyone around us.
This holiday season we should all try our best to put down our phones and live in the moment. We should find our own joy and share that joy with others. Here are some ways you can spread joy that don't involve social media:
1. Serve a meal to the homeless.
2. Donate old clothes and shoes to a local shelter.
3. Grab an ornament from an Angel tree and donate to a child in need.
4. Donate blankets and toys to a humane society.
5. Put money in the Salvation Army bucket.
6. Call someone you haven't spoken to in a long time.
7. Visit a family member you don't see often just because.
8. Decorate cookies.
9. Watch a Hallmark movie.
10. Watch another Hallmark movie.
11. Well now that you're sucked into watching Hallmark movies, might as well add hot cocoa.
12. Do a puzzle by the fire.
13. Play a board game with your family.
14. Go ice skating (and don't post a million Snapchats unless you can do a triple quadruple axel, in which case you can post one video).
15. Bring your neighbor's trash can up from the street.
16. Wash the dishes without being asked.
17. Let someone out in front of you in traffic.
18. Plan a staycation.
19. Or build a fort in your living room (I mean when was the last time you built a fort?).
20. Go for a midnight McDonalds run with a friend.
21. Pay for the person behind you.
22. Write Christmas cards and send them to friends and family.
23. Give your dog a new toy.
24. Tip your waiter or waitress more than 20%.
25. Build a gingerbread house.
26. Have a conversation with your family with no TV or phones.
27. Make someone laugh.
28. Hold the door for someone.
29. Pay for a friend's dinner.
30. Smile!
Life happens when we put down our phones. Change happens when we take the opportunity to do something good for someone. It costs absolutely nothing to spread joy. Do something for someone else, not just to put it on social media.
Take the time of the holiday season to spread positivity because what we put into this world is what we will get out of it.
