What Is It??

I was raised Catholic, so Christmas has always been a big thing in my family and in the village where I grew up.

When I was growing up, and then later when I moved to California, I had the opportunity to meet people who were not Catholic, or even Christian; some weren’t religious or spiritually inclined at all.

However, I noticed that the majority of people seem to feel “something” during the Christmas season...maybe they can’t completely define or understand it, but it’s something that inspires them to be a little kinder, a little more understanding, and more generous.

What is that “something”?

It can’t be just the religious or historical aspect of Christmas (the birth of the baby Jesus), since not everyone is interested (or believes) in that. 

So, what else could it be?

I’m not completely sure about this, but my theory is that the answer lies in the collective mindset. At Christmas time lots and lots of people are, to some extent, focused on buying presents for others; planning Christmas dinner or parties; finding beautiful cards in order to write messages of appreciation and love to others; etc.

In a nutshell: people are focused more on OTHERS and less on themselves. 

Thoughts are powerful, and when our thoughts are strongly focused around a certain object or idea, an ever-increasing magnetism is created that pulls other, more scattered and random thoughts, into its orbit.

Now, here’s my question: Could we do this all-year long, instead of just at Christmas time?

Of course we could! All it would take is enough people committing themselves to focusing on OTHERS--by thinking kind, understanding, positive, compassionate thoughts--every day, 365 days a year.

I’m ready to commit; how about you? Are you willing to try? If we can do this for the month of December, we can do it for the other 11 months of the year as well...right?

Then, as the poem says, we can “let every day be Christmas.”

Have a happy, selfless day...and year! 😉

--Ramesha