TGIM: Holiday Magic

Welcome back to Thank God It’s Monday!

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tl;dr The pressure of gift-giving throughout the season can feel like it sucks the life out of the holidays. We can breathe life back into the holidays by looking for instances of awe and remembering that we are all part of a greater whole. After all, holiday magic results from joy and wonder harnessed from acting for the greater good of others.
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It’s fitting that we have almost as many holidays centered around shopping as we do to celebrate with our families. We get ads promoting the best holiday deals and are urged to take action quickly to have the best gifts for our loved ones. That way we can create this wonderful holiday magic.

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But this “magic” is a product of the best experts in marketing creating demand for a consumer economy. And there’s nothing wrong with that. It has resulted in an economy that supports our country and makes the comfortable lives many of us are so fortunate to lead.
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However, the gift-giving culture can be exhausting. The pressure to buy the perfect gift for all of our loved ones can be taxing. But it’s all worth it when you see the face of the recipient who opens a great present.

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The joy of gift exchange is heavily weighted in the act of giving a good gift. You can probably still sense the joy when you have given the perfect present and how their reaction made you feel. Compare that feeling to when you’ve received a really good gift. While I’m sure you can remember getting your first iPod or favorite pair of shoes, the sentiment is not the same as when it’s shared with others.
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Humans have an incredible ability to relate to others and share a common experience. Think of listening to a talented group of singers harmonizing together or at your favorite rock concert. Maybe you’ve gotten the feeling from volunteering or working in the service of others. Even graduating from a difficult graduate program after years of hard work or joining a fraternity in college can create a shared sense of pride that can’t be replicated in any gift.

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Sharing the human experience is one of the greatest opportunities we have that is so easily taken for granted. The technology that has developed and the ability to access everything with a single tap on the phone has made it harder to appreciate. But it also has made those interactions even more valuable, wherever you can catch those small glimpses of the human spirit.

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This sense of joy that comes in these moments can also be sensed when you have a sense of awe, particularly in nature.
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Think of a really beautiful sunset, or a picture of a deep, underwater sea shelf. Maybe it’s a mountain range or a picture of birds flying together cohesively. Any of these experiences from your own personal adventures or seeing accounts of others can give you a pit in your stomach or make you take a deep breath. It reminds us of how small we are and how fleeting our existence is in the grand scheme of nature.
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Albeit humbling, I love this sensation because it reminds you of what really matters in life. It helps to not worry about getting the perfect present and instead focus on finding moments to enjoy the human experience and the awe of nature. These are the moments that we will remember how they made us feel and get in touch with that deeply embedded desire to relate to other people and nature. The joy is more than that which any present can bring.

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So when you’re worried about what to buy to create the ultimate holiday magic, buy back your time to spend with your loved ones. Buy yourself any tools that can help you spend more time in nature. Buy yourself any opportunity to create that holiday magic for others. And in doing these, you will experience the greatest holiday magic for yourself.

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If you found some value in this, please share it with a friend you think would enjoy it! And let me know if you’d like to be added to get TGIM.

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This week, my podcast recommendation is from 10% Happier with Dan Harris, “The Science of How Nature Changes Your Brain – From Sleep to Cognition to Your Nervous System with Dacher Keltner.”
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With that, happy December everyone! Let’s finish out this year strong.
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Until next time,

Shannon

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P.S.

1. I am of the nature to grow old. There is no way to escape growing old.
2. I am of the nature to have ill health. There is no way to escape having ill health.
3. I am of the nature to die. There is no way to escape death.
4. All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change. There is no way to escape being separated from them.
5. My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground upon which I stand.