Magic Beans to Turn a Nightmarish, Cold Christmas Holiday into a Warm and Cheery One
Can gratitude get you out of every self inflicted “mess?” Travel plus Christmas (or INSERT HOLIDAY HERE) equals nightmare, right? Certainly it’s been my experience. An experience I seem to always be RIGHT about! Everything will be a crowded, cramped, crabby competition. At the risk of enrolling you into agreeing with me on this nightmare…
Once upon a time: It was the day before I ‘had’ to make the annual trek from Los Angeles to see the in-laws in Boston. I had done it several times before. It’s typically around 14 hours door to door. I knew it would be long. It would be painful. It would be stressful. There would be altercations, accidents, mishaps, stupidity. The airliner would be 90 degrees and stuffy. People would cough and sneeze and squeeze.The luggage would be heavy. Security lines would be long. Need I go on? Being a practitioner of the “Law of Attraction” I knew that I was and would be RIGHT. I knew I was setting myself up literally for “hell on Earth” just as so many of us do during a blessed or supposedly fun and love-filled holiday (at least that’s what the commercials promise.)
My wife had gone out several days ahead. I was on my own. I knew the more I thought about it, the more “trouble” I was in for. As “they” say, you really can’t NOT think about something. (Try NOT to think about Red and Green! What just popped into your head?) Well, I knew I would need to replace my negative thoughts. But how? I would be surrounded, nay, submerged in challenging situations for 14 hours. What to do? Be grateful? Sure. But that’s often way easier said than done especially while one is not sitting and meditating or reflecting but actually “in the trenches!” Am I grateful it only takes 14 hours by plane and not 14 months by stage coach? Yes. Am I glad we fly and arrive safely. Yes. Oddly, those thoughts of gratitude still do not exactly buoy me up while lugging suitcases through an airport filled with anxious holiday travelers. Gratitude is a state of being. Is there anything one can physically do to move into a different state of being? In this case, there was.
I remembered two things:
1) When in the “victim mode,” it’s often impossible to ‘fix’ the feelings because your attention is focused on YOUR problems. So, one must “look outside” and put one’s attention on other people.
2) I know that I always feel great whenever I help another person or give to another person without any strings attached. Unconditional giving….no obligation. That’s why I actually favor Halloween as a “fun” holiday over Christmas. Christmas seems filled with obligations and obligatory giving, yet on Halloween, we hand out candy to total strangers!
My solution: (I’ll bet you think I handed out candy. Close.) Before I went to bed on the eve of my journey, I went to Starbucks. I purchased twenty $5.00 gift cards. I even tied a ribbon around each just to add a personal touch. I would hand these out throughout the day of my travels. I promised that I would not censor or edit my giving: I would not bribe or even reward people. Instead, I would hand cards out spontaneously and/or at random. I would gift the clerks, tellers, handlers, security, etc. I would not withhold a gift-card if someone was seemingly rude or un-helpful. In fact, I would be certain to make sure they received a gift.
Guess what happened? I didn’t even get a chance to hand out a card to anyone that was rude (although the Boston Airport Police did seem a little “stern.”) I have to tell you, everyone was NICE. They did not know I had these magic cards! Of course, I knew it. I didn’t have a chance to focus on “poor me” and my “holiday travel pains” or what was “wrong” with everything. My focus was on giving! Who would get the next card? It was like a Willy Wonka adventure of some sort.
I swear I walked through security and had the nicest security person EVER help me. She literally helped with my stuff! She had a sense of humor. Wow! After I was through and ready to leave, that’s when I gave her the card. She flipped! You may think a “cup of coffee” is no big deal nor any great gift in this world in this day, but give it to someone unsuspecting, without condition, just “because” (actually, just for No cause) and just watch what a bright reaction you will most likely get.
Gratitude is almost always pointed to as the “key” to positive thought and positive attraction. I completely agree. And when it seems difficult to “get in that place” just by thinking, then try doing this. Giving is “gratitude in action!” Every good stage or movie actor will tell you, “It’s in the doing!” To shift into a specific mood, emotion, or state, do SOMETHING!
Tips:
Don’t expect any particular reaction. Just let it flow. Don’t depend or count on being “rewarded” just as you don’t want to hand out the cards as rewards. If this happens, you will slip into “giving to get” or giving with strings attached. The whole operation will go South (far from the North pole!)
Have you turned Christmas shopping into a holiday nightmare? Bring along gift cards while Christmas shopping.
Just for “no cause”: Have you become a little “slumped” in the holidays? Too may “obligations?” Well, add some non-obligatory things to your list immediately: Go to a local hospital, assisted care facility, or even a shopping mall and hand out: store bought cards, hand-made cards, single stem flowers. (I use the roses that are two dozen for ten bucks at the super market. I tie a ribbon to each.) Again, you may think this is silly, or “small” or even cheap. I assure you, they will be received as though they are gold bars. I promise.
You know those Salvation Army Santas? Sometimes I perceive them as annoying. So, I shifted my perspective. In addition to putting some change in the bucket, I give them a card and/or gift certificate and make sure they know that it is for them.
As Nike would declare: “Just do it!” Don’t “think it through!” This is an action of the heart, not the brain. Funny how I am actually a little frightened or embarrassed to begin sharing these gifts each year. My head starts sending tiny pot shots. Some how I think the gifts might either be rejected, or I might somehow be rejected or made silly. Believe me, that “small” feeling is quickly transcended. I assure you that the joy you will feel will be worth a hundred fold the time, money or “scary thoughts” invested. If you have small children, let them do the giving. Smiles will abound and hearts will grow three sizes!
I have made cards that I hand out either by themselves or with gift certificates (coffee, treats, etc.) inside. These cards usually make a special impression because they are both a bit of a surprise, and they celebrate the people receiving them, not just the season! Check ‘em out! You can download the artwork and print them out on your home printer.
Go to http://www.themiraclechild.com
At TheMiracleChild.com there’s also a video just for you! Thank you for being you and for all that you do in this world. What would we do without you? Thank you. May the light of this season shine to and through you!
