Five Simple Ways to Lift Your Spirits

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This Christmas you can use these five simple ways to lift your spirits and the hearts of those around you as well. By choosing to look outside yourself, you–and your family–can be blessed and be a blessing in this season of the greatest gift of all-time–the birth of our Savior. We are grateful for this guest post by Allison Hottinger who loves sharing the true gift of Christmas with others. 

Five Simple Ways to Lift Your Spirits

Have you cried more this year than you ever have before? If you answered yes, you aren’t alone.

If you look around at your neighbors, friends, and strangers, you will see hints of worry, sadness, and loneliness on their faces.

Now think for just a second: How would it feel if someone came along to lift you up right now?

What if they dropped a chocolate bar at your door?

What if they dropped a notecard in the mail for you?

If someone even noticed me at the grocery store right now, it would lift me up.

In some ways, it’s never been harder to lift the cloud hanging over us, but in others, it’s never been easier because a small gesture can go a long, long way. We have to do something to lift the people around us.

Five Simple Ways to Lift Your Spirits

Here are a few simple ways to practice kindness and giving to others that will not only lift the spirit of those around us, but will bring joy to our own hearts as well:

1. Mail a letter to a senior in a nursing home

It’s as easy as printing out this service project packet, having your kids color a picture, and popping it in the mail. Getting letters are sure to make a senior smile when they can’t have visitors this year.

2. Poinsettia doorbell drop off

We all loved doorbell ditching as children, but have you done it as an adult with your kids? Pick up an inexpensive poinsettia (some stores have them as low as $5 right now) and drop it off at a neighbor or friend’s doorstep to make their day!

3. Don’t complain for a whole day

Have you ever tried to go a whole day without complaining? It’s tough. Choosing joy when we have the opportunity to complain is a quick gift to those around us and will often lift our own hearts.

4. Leave a note on someone’s pillow.

The words “I love you” hit different when written intentionally and left on a pillow. A small gesture that can’t help make someone in your house feel treasured.

5. Start a tradition together

Five Simple Ways to Lift Your Spirits

The Giving Manger is a fun and interactive Christmas tradition that will help families focus on giving and the true meaning of Christmas. By putting a piece of straw in the manger each time an act of kindness is completed, hearts are encouraged and excited to look for opportunities to give. The tradition is complete when on Christmas Day they place Baby Jesus in a manger full of straw, representing all the service and kindness shown leading up to the day!

Do the tradition with a friend and share stories of kindness along the way!

This year, let’s remember that tears are temporary but memories of giving last forever.

Allison Hottinger and Lisa Kalberer are sisters who are passionate about giving back. As they began to raise their own families, they realized that the true meaning of Christmas and the spirit of giving was getting lost in the hustle and bustle of the season. They put pen to paper, wood to the saw, and clay in their hands to create the book, manger, and Baby Jesus that make up The Giving Manger–a complete tradition to help families focus on the real meaning of Christmas. They hope that The Giving Manger can spread kindness and promote service as families come together and shift the focus of Christmas from getting to giving. Allison lives in Ladera Ranch, California, and Lisa lives in Austin, Texas.

Learn more at www.thegivingmanger.com and on Facebook (@thegivingmanger)

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