ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS

ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS

(Making your Christmas magnificent and memorable)



Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart."
~ Washington Irving (1783-1859), American short-story writer and essayist.



Yes! its that time of the year when homes and shops are decked with Christmas trees, beautiful baubles, bright lights and garlands. Its another year of Christmas carols wafting through from every radio, television, ipod,cd player, and everybody in a general yuletide mode. How did your year go?Do not worry about those shattered dreams and unaccomplished goals, the sun will surely shine again. Walking down the pity path, will only strip you bare emotionally, and blind you from unwrapping the gift of the present-LIFE. Yes, the year may have been challenging, but I do have countless things to be grateful for. I have resolved to count my blessings and not discount them. So what does it takes to have a memorable Christmas?:



1. Gratitude: "If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get." - Frank A. Clark.Its natural to look back at your goal book and whine at the things you were not able to achieve,but inspite of whatever has happened to you in the course of the year, there is need for you to cultivate the attitude of gratitude, because it could have been worse.What are you thankful for today?The inimitable oprah Winfrey once said:’End each day by listing the things you are grateful for’.

2.Gifts:Having money is a great responsibility because it makes it possible for us to do things for other people.Material possessions will eventually lose their shine, but giving gifts can help others and even save their lives.Hapiness comes from giving not getting. Be a blessing to someone this season. The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others' burdens, easing other's loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas." ~ W. C. Jones

3.Generousity:Since life is what you make of it, choose to be generous this season, it will go a long way in adding magnificence and verve to your Christmas. Don’t buy into the myth that everybody else is having a perfect Christmas,seek to be generous , show that you care , give someone a reason to smile. My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?" ~ Bob Hope, American film actor and comedian. A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.

4.Give yourself a treat. He who allows his day to pass by without practicing generosity and enjoying life's pleasures is like a blacksmith's bellows. He breathes, but does not live.Its pertinent to enjoy the gift of life God has given you.Take yourself out, enjoy your life,invest in you, give yourself a memorable treat this season.If you do not do this , nobody would do it for you.Life is too short not to be lived to the fullest.Have a merry Christmas and a fulfilling new year.