Living Life to the Fullest at the Holidays

By Christine Martin, Executive Director at Community Life Bridge

Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! It is likely many of us have heard these sayings in the past few weeks and will hear them for a few more days. To some this brings joy to their heart. To some this brings pain to their heart. And for others, they are numb; it doesn’t move their heart at all. SO, how should we walk through the days ahead being aware of that truth. The truth is that yes, the holidays bring joy to many, but they also bring hard days to many as well.

First, we can take responsibility for our own reaction to these joy-filled phrases. When we hear Merry Christmas or Happy New Year, we can choose to see them as small gifts offered to us—words of hope meant to brighten our day. They are phrases of joy that invite us to refocus on the blessings we have, even when those blessings feel small. Merry Christmas reminds us of the true reason we celebrate—not the presents or even the presence of others, but the birth of Christ. And Happy New Year encourages us to look ahead with fresh eyes, carrying new hopes and dreams while holding onto all we have learned and gained in the year behind us.

Second, we can also share these words with others. As we speak the words Happy Holidays!, let’s say them with intention. Let’s mean them, truly mean them, and not just mumble out of habit. If we offer them with energy, as a small gift freely given, they may carry the power to brighten someone’s day. As Merry Christmas or Happy New Year rolls off our tongue, let’s pay attention to the response of the one receiving it. If their eyes look empty, perhaps they need a hug or a quiet word of encouragement. If their eyes fill with tears, they may need someone to stand beside them for a moment. Let’s stay sensitive to the hearts on the other end of our greeting—still sharing, still giving, but also recognizing that sometimes the person hearing our words may need a little more. Sometimes, they simply need to know you truly meant what you said – that they have Merry in their Christmas and Happy in their new year.

Third, be sure to be in the moment. That moment may be a quiet place on your couch, or it may be a crowded room full of loud family members. Wherever you are, be present. You will not get this time back. Look around and search for joy. I spent several holidays away from family, trying to make the most of where I was while my heart ached to be somewhere else. Looking back, I can see how those days shaped me. They helped me understand others more deeply. Those holidays away taught me that it isn’t about the presents or even the presence—it’s about embracing where I am, focusing on the One who placed me in that moment, at that time, to celebrate His birth.

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