Christmas is not particularly my favourite time of year – I’ve had some not so great memories of the time, but I have also had some pretty good times too. I have found it has become very commercialized and that it’s all about gifts. Giving is showing love, but the expense of giving has become a bit ridiculous in my eyes. Seriously – what 10 year old needs a brand new iPhone? None.

I was recently reading Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff (by Richard Carlson), and one of the chapters strikes me as relevant this time of year.

“Tell 3 people (today) how much you love them”. The beginning of this chapter asks the question “If you had an hour to live and could only make one phone call – who would you call, what would you say, and why are you waiting??”

Christmas, for some, is rather depressing, for many reasons. A lot of people have lost a family member and this is the time that they wish they were still around. Some people simply can’t afford Christmas (this was me as a single mom many years ago – I did without so that I could get my kids something for under the tree – not that I regret one minute of it, but that was just the way it was).

So today, instead of thinking and stressing over the Christmas rush, take a minute to call someone and tell them that you love them. It’s only a minute out of your day – surely we can all take a minute to tell someone we love them.

I hope we all can have a peaceful and loving holiday season, and I hope we can all remember the true meaning of Christmas – whatever that may be for each of us.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings, Feliz Navidad, Veselé Vánoce, Joyeux Noël, (I think you get the picture).

Love to all this holiday season. And remember, be kind.