ways to make this the best christmas season

Imagine being in Iraq or Afghanistan this Christmas, away from loved ones and the comforts of home. Remember those fighting for our freedom and send a note of thanks or a needed gift.

As things begin to slow down in the days before Christmas and the week after, take some time to reexamine your own life to determine what is truly meaningful and important to you. Define and uncover your passion and purpose to begin the New Year with a fresh perspective.

One of the most meaningful gifts you can give is a hand written letter expressing your love and gratitude to your spousebeloved, your parents, your children, or a treasured friend. Take time and thoughtful care in expressing your feelings, writing on beautiful paper, and wrapping your gift. It will never be forgotten.

If you know someone alone or lonely this holiday season, connect with them. Invite them over for a meal or include them in a family occasion. The holidays can be very sad for many people, and you can bring a ray of light into their lives.

Get in the car and take a drive just to look at the holiday lights and decorations. Or simple walk around your neighborhood. Carry a mug of hot chocolate and a box of homemade cookies with you and make it an occasion.

Sometimes the best thing about Christmas is the expectant build up. Don t let all the little things that make Christmas extra special pass you by in a blur of frantic present wrapping. To make this your best Christmas ever sit back, put your weary over shopped feet up and take a big sip of your favourite festive mocha

Everyone has a favourite Christmas movie, so why not invite a few of your friends round or gather up the family and arrange a Christmas movie night? The rules are this everyone should bring one Christmas movie they love and a Christmas treat. Then you just need to sit back and enjoy It s A Wonderful Life, Love Actually or, for those more action packed movie fans, Die Hard.

To make this Christmas your best ever you should definitely peruse the Christmas section at your bookstore. Imagine settling back into a comfy chair with a cheeky pre Christmas drink whilst reading about plucky Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol or, for those of you who like a more humorous and modern read, Holidays On Ice by David Sedaris. If you often find yourself too frazzled around Christmas to pick up a book try a Christmas poetry anthology The Oxford Book of Christmas Poems is a great choice.

Okay, so the internet is nothing new but, despite the fact that you can buy pretty much everything online for less, people still traipse around overcrowded shops, only to get blasted by advertising and persuasive shop layouts that make us buy dud presents no one wants and have to queue for 25 minutes for the privilege of buying said gifts. Trust us, for the majority of the gifts you need to buy, you re best to stick to online stores. You can shop around for the best price and look out for stores that offer a free delivery service.

Okay, so you may not have written a letter to Santa since you were nine years old but, although a little childish, this year posting a letter to the jolly feller who lives in Lapland might help you more than you could guess. Yet rather than adding material items to your wish list, write down some personal goals, like finding a new guy or girl or overcoming your fear of spiders. Then in your letter try to suggest ways Santa could help you achieve your goals come Christmas day. You might be surprised by the solutions that you write and what changes your wish list to Santa might create.