eremedies

Get Into the Season's Spirit

Holiday spirit doesn't have to mean wearing red and green or playing with a dreidel. Cold wintertime is a time for families to stay indoors, so they can get to know one another. Make the most of this time.

* Use the time to get to know your family. Didn't you always wonder what your Uncle really does for a living? Hear funny (new!) stories about when your parents were kids, or about yourself.

* Just sit and be together.

* If your family has the tradition of giving gifts, make it meaningful. Pick something each person would really like, rather than something they don't want or need. If there's nothing that strikes you, consider making a donation in their name, or give something that means a lot to you (a photo, a keepsake).

* If you don't exchange gifts, use the time and energy to exchange thoughts. Write letters, give cards, and help each other around the home and kitchen, or in any way you can.

* Help those who don't have families and who are less fortunate. Spend time wrapping gifts for bookstore, collect toys for a program like Toys for Tots, or helping out at a soup kitchen. Some little thing you can do will help someone, somewhere.