Holidays are for celebrating with friends and family, being merry, making memories, and remembering all there is to be grateful for. I guess this is why holidays can be so hard for some. Sometimes I guess there isn't much to be super happy about. No one should have to feel like that; no matter what the circumstance, there should always be something to celebrate. Maybe we can find ways to give everyone something to be happy about. I challenge you to pick a few of these ideas and put them into motion in the next couple weeks. Who knows maybe you'll even find more holiday cheer in your own heart!

1. Smile!

2. Grace retail employees with gifts of their own.

3. Bring something warm to a Salvation Army volunteer.

4. Visit a soup kitchen.

5. Donate to children in foster care.

6. Participate in Operation Christmas Child.

7. Bake cookies for older neighbors.

8. Offer to babysit for free.

9. Volunteer.

10. Leave encouraging post-it notes around town.

11. Bring some holiday cheer into a nursing home or hospital.

12. Reach out to your community.

13. Buy coffee for the person in line behind you.

14. Make dinner for a family/person who could use the love.

15. Mail graced notes to strangers out of a phone book.

16. Leave a favorite, used book with a note about what you loved about it most in a public place for someone to pick up.

17. Donate your hair to St. Baldricks or Pantene.

18. Ask a stranger to share a meal with you.

19. Place flowers on a grave-site that could use joy.

20. Adopt a Soldier.

21. Listen to someone who desperately needs to be listened to and conversed with.

22. Give the benefit of the doubt. Judge less.

23. Donate coats.

24. Pet sit for free.

25. Send cards to imprisoned people.

26. Forgive someone.

27. Rake leaves or shovel snow.

28. Compliment freely.