This Christmas, at last I’ve let myself get caught up in the wonder of the season. I’ve watched some Christmas shows, movies and specials that remind me so strongly of my childhood, and the wonder that the season brought me then. I made some special Christmas cookies, and I’ll listen to good Christmas music every chance I get. These things awaken in me the magic that was Christmas so long ago.

This Christmas, I practiced generosity, and I focused on giving. And when I decided which gifts to give, I made a great effort to make sure that they’re gifts that I know that people want, not gifts that I want them to want, or that I think they should want. I dropped spare change into the Salvation Army cans, and I looked for ways to contribute other things when I could and all of this was done without incurring any debt.

This Christmas, I let go of all expectations, and focused on enjoying each moment. I won’t expect any specific gifts from anyone, and I won’t expect anyone to act or react in certain ways, thus almost guaranteeing my disappointment. If I let go of expectations, all disappointment will be banished from my holiday season.

This Christmas, I’ll keep my mind focused on those who don’t have as much as we have, those who will spend Christmas without significant gifts, without a special meal, without family and friends with whom to spend the holiday. Focusing on these people will not diminish my ability or willingness to enjoy the gifts for which I’m so grateful, but it will provide me with a strong sense of perspective, a constant reminder of just how fortunate we are. Hopefully, this focus also will help to contribute to the compassion of the world, and it definitely will help me to grow in compassion.

This Christmas, I’m going to bottle up all of the goodwill and joy and happiness and keep it on my desk. Then, each day for the next year, I’ll open that bottle and allow those feelings to flow out into the new day, trusting that the bottle never shall go empty.

This Christmas, I’ll treat others as they deserve to be treated, with dignity and respect and love and compassion. I’ll do my best not to let other people’s actions (or inaction) change the way I feel about myself and the current moment.

This Christmas, I’ll focus on the message of love the true meaning behind Christmas. This Christmas, I’ll focus on breaking down the barriers that I’ve put up over the years to keep God’s love at bay, mostly out of fear.

This Christmas, I’ll be grateful for all that I have, all that I ever have had, and all that I shall have in the future. Even if I had no material possessions, I still would have a beautiful, wonderful world to live in, and the more I appreciate it, the more I’ll get out of it.

These are my thoughts for This Christmas and most of them I have been able to carry out so far, I will let you know more after the holidays are over to know just how well I was able to do with all my thoughts for This Christmas. I am very happy today here at Always Victoria and Life Is Simply Good.