Share the Love. 20 Ways to Show Someone You Care.

​The Christmas season is an excellent time of year to pour love out on everyone you come in contact with!  For some reason, during this time of year, people are more generous and giving than in other times.  And people are more accepting of love and displays of affection than in other times of the year.  I can tell you, I get away with hugging more people in December than in any other month!  And yes, I abuse the privilege!

So don't miss out on your opportunity to share in the pleasure of giving love to others.  Here's just a few suggestions to get you started...

1. Donate to a charity in someone's name.  There are so many worthwhile causes out there and some people are uncomfortable accepting gifts so this is the perfect solution!

2. Baked Goods.  Give the gift of homemade cakes or cookies or other yummy snacks.  And as an extra bonus, spend the day making the treats with someone you love!

3. Tell someone something you admire about them.  Everyone enjoys hearing a kind word.  "Love the way you share with your sister."  "Great Customer service today!" "I love when you read our kids a story before bed.  You're creating great memories."

4. Invite a friend out for coffee.  Get to know them better over a steamy cup of java or hot chocolate.

5. Leave someone a secret encouraging note!  Make their day when they find a note saying something thoughtful like, "Way to go on that project!"  or "Thanks for cleaning your room without being told!" or "Just wanted to tell you that I'm proud of you for all of your hard work."

6. Make some homemade Christmas cards and take them to the patients in a local hospital or send them to our soldiers that are stationed overseas.

7. Ask what the best part of their day has been, and then listen!  Don't interrupt!

8. Remind someone how much you enjoy having them in your life.

9. HUGS!!! 

10. Actions speak louder than words!  Do it!  Don't just say it!  If you've been promising to do something, now's the time!

11. Do something unexpected.  Bring donuts into work.  Clean the ice off the neighbor's car.  Take out the trash.  Offer to cook dinner.  

12. Pay it Forward.  Participate in random acts of kindness.  Donate toys, food or money to a good holiday benefit.  Pay for a stranger's meal or coffee.  Give a random person a gift.  Volunteer.

13. Gift a small gift... just cause.

14.  Smile!  Look people in the eye!

15. Say it!  "I care for you." "I love you." "You are special to me." "You're amazing just the way you are."

16. Pass on the gift of music.  Donate new cd's to the children's ward at a hospital or church or just some stranger walking down the street!  Do you play an instrument?  Can you carry a tune?  Go and sing/play for a senior living center or hospital or even on a street corner!

17. Watch a favorite holiday movie with someone special.

18. Put your phone away and ask questions.  Get some one-on-one time with each member of your family or a close friend or a co-worker or someone sitting alone at the airport.

19. Enjoy the Christmas light displays either by walking, driving or carriage ride!

20.  Buy ANYTHING a child is selling!  If they took the time and the courage to ask you... buy.  You'll do wonders for their self-esteem! (Parents! Don't do it FOR them!)

Christmas is a magical time of year.  Take advantage of it and share the love!  Happy holidays everyone!

Chime in!  What are some things you do for the holidays to show others that you care?  Comment below!  I'd love to hear your feedback!

Regret- verb: to feel sad, repentant or disappointed over something that has happened or has been done, especially a loss or missed opportunity.

No one makes it through life without regrets.  Some can be minor and only bring a minor sting upon its remembrance, but others can feel like a heavy burden being drug around which can effect your present attitude and happiness in your future.

Many regrets come from decisions that we've made that we wish we hadn't but it seems the most painful regrets are the ones in which we chose NOT to do something.  We opted to take a safer, risk-free route instead of stepping out of our comfort zone and seeing what would happen.

Let's look first at what we can do with the regrets that we still have hanging around our neck.
-Face your regrets.  Really take a moment to look at them.  Why is it classified as a regret?  Was it a choice you made?  Was it something that was out of your control?  Something someone else did?  Pull all those painful, embarrassing, angry emotions up to the surface.
- Take responsibility for your part.  Avoid blaming others when you know ultimately we are rarely ever guilt-free.
-Forgive.  Forgive yourself.  Forgive anyone else that was involved.  Your past is your past.  Forgiveness is going to take away those heavy feelings and begin the healing process, which in turn lets you let go.
-Grieve.  Now's the time to get all those emotions out and let them go.  Sadness, anger, guilt, embarrassment... let them go.
-Learn from them.  Let every experience be a learning experience.  Don't make the same mistake twice. 

"I made decisions that I regret, and took them as a learning experiences... I'm human, not perfect, like anybody else."
                                                                          - Queen Latifah

And now, on to preventing those regrets of I wish I would have...
-Suffer the pain of discipline or suffer the pain of regret.  All growth begins at the end of your comfort zone.  Take a risk.  You'll never know if you don't try.  The hardest part is taking the first step.  
-It's better to have a lifetime of experiences and mistakes that helped you grow and hone your skills, rather than an empty lonely heart and a past of empty, un-fulfilled dreams.
-Don't let your past regret dominate your future goals.  Reach for your dreams.  You may fall short and you may even fail, but you'll never have to say, "I wish I had..."  Go after your dreams and don't let anyone discourage you.  Listen politely to others.  Take the advice you can use, discard the rest.  The final decision is yours.  You will have no one else to blame if you don't take the chance.
-It's not too late.  Start today.  You are on the cusp of a brand new year.  Take this opportunity to jot down a few goals or just some things you want to concentrate on for the new year.  How do you want to improve your mind?  Job?  Relationships?  Finances?  How will you choose to give back to others?  What new things are you excited about learning?  What do you have to do to get started?  Take that first step.

"Get correct views of life and learn to see the world in its true light.  It will enable you to live pleasantly, to do good and when summoned away, to leave without regret."
                                                                          -Robert E. Lee

The past is a memory.  You don't live there anymore.  The future is an anticipated thought.  All we truly have is this moment.  We keep forgetting that because we always look to the future for our happiness and it never gets here.  It's always in the future.  Pay attention to today. Don't let your life happen without you.  Don't look back, into your past, into your memories, and see too many regrets.

Start making your list now, and start on the prep work in between all the holiday shopping, baking, and visiting so you'll be ready when the new year hits and you'll be able to hit the ground running!

Share your progress with me!  Get an accountability partner!  Get ready to launch an all new no regrets kind of year!!