Step Four: Show Up and Serve Hard
The holidays are a really difficult time for many people. Holiday TV shows and movies will frame each moment as perfect and picturesque: snow falling, fire crackling and a brand new Lexus waiting for you on your driveway come Christmas morning. But for many, that expectation is not their reality. For the most vulnerable in our communities, Christmas is just a reminder of how tragically life has played out. People endure various degrees of suffering, whether it’s little to no access to food, or the disappointment of not receiving any gifts, so we as neighbors need to show up and show love for those who suffer.
This holiday season, you can show up and make a massive difference in someone’s life. Consider all the people you encounter day to day: the single mom, the orphaned child, the homeless and the hurting. Once again, you can navigate the holidays to make them meaningful simply by choosing to serve in a way that makes sense for you. You can partner with a local organization, your church, or someone you may personally know in need of assistance. You can give your time, but you can also rally your community. Together you can show up in force, do good and really commit to generosity and making a meaningful difference in the lives’ of others.
Step Five: Show Up to the Important
I was having a conversation with my teenage daughter, and she told me one of the greatest things she learned in the last two years was how to say no. She realized that if she can set boundaries and be firm in her convictions, she can not only be a good friend and classmate, but she can also have a clear vision of how she uses her time and emotional energy.
The lesson here is simple: set boundaries this season, and let those boundaries guide your decisions. If you do this well, you will show up to the most important parties and events, and you will learn to accept that you cannot please every person who invites you to their party. We have to manage our yes’s so when we show up, we can add value, be present and find joy. Plan those priorities first, and fight to make sure you can show up and enjoy those moments.
Start Planning Now
Maybe the moral of this story is simple: you have more control than you think. If you spend a few moments planning and prioritizing what’s important, you won’t wake up January 2nd with debt and regret. Instead, you will wake up with gratitude, wonderful memories and the comfort of knowing that you navigated the holidays well. You served those who needed you, you created learning moments along the way, you were generous and contributed to those who were less fortunate, and you said yes to what mattered the most. This scenario is possible, start planning right now!
