It happens every year around this time. Some years it takes longer than others.
At some point amid all the chaos of shopping and trying to close up the proverbial shop before the holiday break, you feel it.
It could be inspired by a song, a card, or a quiet moment with family or a night out with friends.
In my case, I was shopping at an outdoor mall. Music blared in the background, a small mist turned into a light rain. I felt a smile come across my face and soon found myself singing along to The Little Drummer Boy as I moved from one store to another.
I was feeling the Christmas spirit.
Christmas is my favorite season – and not because I was born on Christmas. It is a time of giving. Not just gifts but more importantly love for others and ourselves. During the holiday break, we give ourselves and so many things a break. The number of important things “to do” slowly fall away until you’re left with the simplicity of being present with your family, your friends and with yourself.
Of course, being moved by the spirit is not limited to religious holidays. We can feel the spirit with nature or when nurtured by someone. We can feel it in communion with others in a house of worship or in solitude as we meditate or marinate in our own thoughts. We experience spirits in teams as we play with friends or root for strangers.
To be moved by a spirit of any kind is to be in touch with the vital or animating force within us.
Some people are by their nature more spirited than others. Their life force is so frequently on display for others to see, feel or be moved by. Others share their spirit in quieter but no less powerful ways.
Ideally it doesn’t take a holiday or a break from everyday life to feel our spirit or share it with others. It is in fact all around us and within us all the time. It is no wonder that the etymology of the word itself comes from the Latin word “spiritus” – which means breath.
So take a deep breath, feel your spirit and let it out by sharing it with others.
Wishing you a happy holiday.
This Week’s Recommendation. I’ve seen it a hundred times, but each year I can’t resist the urge to tune into “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It is a movie filled with spirit and meaning and the back story behind how it came to be is itself filled with wonder.
Share this email with someone who could use a little holiday spirit.