Re-connecting with the True Meaning of the Holidays

Author
Karla Solano

I remember loving the holidays when I was a child; it was a magical time that would get started on December 8th. On this particular night every house in every neighborhood would light up the front entrance of their houses with candles, kids would play with fire crackers and fireworks would illuminate the streets of my country…Colombia; every neighbor would come out and share this fun moment of light. This celebration was in honor of the mother of the Inmaculate conception a very important day for a country in which the main spiritual belief was Catholicism.

After this magical day we would begin to gather with the neighbors every night in preparation of Christmas day, we would go from house to house singing Christmas carols, eating different foods and pastries and sharing meaningful moments with those who lived near us.

The holidays had a different meaning for me, it represented a time when relatives would come from all different cities to gather and spend joyful times together. Even though I grew up expecting Christmas day to arrive so I could open up all my presents, Christmas was a lot more than just shopping and opening gifts; it represented putting all worries aside to really take the time to bond with one another instead of rushing to wait in front of a retail store at the crack of dawn to get the best deals in town.

This commercialized misinterpretation of the holidays gets me very upset, not only because we have lost touch of what the true meaning of the holidays is all about but because during these tough economic times, people tend to put so much emphasis on the things they cannot afford, instead of really focusing on the wonderful gifts they already have which can never be replaced by material things.

The holidays are meant to be a joyous time for sharing and giving but let’s not confuse the word “giving” by the material ways but by giving our love to those around us, spending time to really connect with the people in our life, giving our attention to becoming more peaceful and less stressed out, making an effort to be less self absorbed and help those in need, and by focusing our energy in really making a positive impact in people’s lives.

Times are changing and it is time for us to connect with the true essence of the joyful and peaceful times that the holidays are supposed to bring, by being grateful for all the wonderful blessings in our life, and by opening ourselves to the true sharing of the gifts in our hearts that can never be substituted by a gift card or any box wrapped in a pretty wrapping paper.

I invite you to experience the holidays and life from this perspective:

-- Love more and resent less… This will increase the chances of living a happier life
--Laugh more and cry less… This will radiate the youth within
--Count your blessings…. This will bring forth more abundance
--Live each day as if it were your last by making a positive impact no matter what you do….This will allow you to really enjoy life and truly love others instead of worrying about nonsense
--Take time to really relax and breathe, life is too short to live in a constant state of stress….This will allow your mind, body and soul to re-align and bring forth clarity and inspiration
--Share precious moments with your friends and family…This will give you the endurance you need during the toughest times in your life

May your holidays be full of joy, love and peace.
Happy Holidays