Christmas Spirit All Year

Trite? Yes. Well, maybe a little. We hear it this time of year, every year. Actually, we hear it about a month ago every year. I am writing this on New Year's Eve at 9pm. Christmas Eve was a week ago and we were in full Christmas Spirit eating chilled plum soup, roasted fruit salad, potato-chestnut latkes with onion compote, and salmon wellington with dilled cream sauce. They day itself came and went six days ago just like it does every year. And just like every year, my wife and I got into our post-Christmas affective disorder or "After Christmas Blues".

The same thing happened last year. And the year before. And the year before. I generally continue to listen to Christmas music until about February 1st, clinging onto the Spirit as long as I can. Last year I decided to actually do it. I did stop the music about that time, but I did keep the Christmas Spirit all year. Really. I really did. And, it was the year I changed the most ever in my life.

2011 was a year I looked at people as the sons and daughters of other people and the way I would want my own children to be viewed. I increased patience. I lowered my annoyance meter. I drove slower. I listened to more uplifting music. I cried more. I read more classical and uplifting literature. I attended more religious services. I got closer to my wife. I viewed less media. I kept 4 of 7 new years resolutions. I judged les--yes, even in my mind. My speach became kinder, and cleaner. I read more in the scriptures. I gave up old, bad habits. My discussions with my wife became more open and honest. And, I just became a nicer, better, funner person.

I didn't record anything of this journey in 2011. I will do so for 2012. I've already decided that one of my resolutions is to document my life more. That includes in my personal journal as well as here with thoughts throughout the year on how to keep the Christmas Spirit going even while you're in your garden picking tomatoes.

As was written by my favorite author in my favorite novel, "I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all year, I will live in the past, present and future, the spirits of all three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach."