5 Holiday Experiences to Warm Your Heart

Are you feeling like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s activities are coming like an out- of -control speed train toward you and your family and friends? The multi-layered to-do list is a permanent fixture as a holiday decoration! And by the way, it’s all good things, just a lot of it.

What happened to those great ideas and intentions that you personally committed to on the beach during summer vacation? It all seemed so doable at the time and worthwhile. Especially the focus on “investing in experiences”.

Giving a gift of a delightful, adventurous, or fulfilling experience to your loved ones can be meaningful and something to share together. Contrast it for example, with the struggle to buy even more toys or games, or maybe the latest gift request that comes via a link from an i-phone. I keep asking myself, “How can a pair of sneakers cost that much?” I didn’t pay that much for my high school prom dress.” But I digress.

And there’s the stale holiday party agenda, that just needs to be refreshed and revived. CPR won’t bring that patient back to life, you’ll need a defibrillator. Don’t get stressed, this is going to be fun!

Here are 6 options for holiday time frivolity, that doesn’t involve an Amazon delivery vehicle in the driveway. The list is not exhaustive, but it will definitely help us all get more creative around the holidays. And for the most part, each idea can be customized for adults and/or children, and applied year-round!

Participate in Local Events

• Be deliberate about Googling area or state-wide events. This option doesn’t always have to be expensive and will give you a chance to explore the local and near-local destinations that you never quite get time to enjoy. Certainly, it’s a great time to sample a theatre offering or musical options for adults or children.

• Check out the local library for events. I love the Christmas Story readings, especially for the little ones.

• Plan outings for the summer, and wrap up the photos and tickets, etc. in a box to be opened under the tree. I find that there’s still a need to have another gift in the wings too, but there’s nothing like looking forward to a unique spring or summer mini, or not so mini, outing or trip

Create-Your-Own Fun

• Seek out an area artist or crafty person. You can pay them to bring the materials and know-how to help you and your friends/family create holiday gifts or festive decorations. This same thought could be applied to bringing in a local chef, or a florist or flower arranger.

• Stage a baking or cupcake decorating contest. This is great for a larger family, or a friend group. You'll have to assign an MC and a Judging panel. And try to get creative with the prizes. Gift cards are always in order as well.

• Depending on your climate, plan scenic walks, or sledding, or skating in the winter-- and then end with lunch or a special dessert.

• Find some new recipes from around the globe and host a Christmas Around the World party. Another way to get at this theme is to ask friends to choose a country and bring a dish with some info about the customs in that country to share around the table. I love this one, and when I host this party in December, my go-to dish will be Cheese Fondue from Switzerland.

• Neighborhood Christmas Caroling feels a little retro now. I don’t see it happening, even within the Christian culture. Let’s bring it back in vogue! Build a party around it. Find the words and music on the web to help your ‘home made choir’.

• Share your own special skill-- and build an activity around it!

Do Good, Through Acts of Kindness

Better yet, let's make this activity a way of life for you and your family.

• Reach out to the food bank, your local homeless shelter, or school. Make time to better understand the obstacles people are facing in your community. Take a day to shop for needed items, serve a meal at a shelter, or meet some other need in a creative way. For children, and adults too, this type of ‘gifting to others’ can really spark joy and a deeper level of understanding for our fellow humans who are struggling with life.

• Come together for an evening of note/card writing, with appetizers, sweets and drinks, of course! Each person can identify at least 3 people to send an encouraging note to. Even better, as host, you could provide the cards, stamps and materials. Use the time to address Christmas or Holiday cards, but more importantly to include a personalized note. This is totally an activity for the younger set too. Maybe a mid-afternoon activity for them with cookies or healthy snacks on the menu.

• Helping to decorate at Assisted Living Centers or other Elder Care facilities. If your friends and family comes along to help, I know the residents will appreciate the company.

Host a Virtual Party or Event

Yeah, I know, we’re all tired of Facetime and Zoom after months and months of the pandemic. Let’s admit it though, digital/video communication isn’t going away, and it’s actually helpful and a blessing. For many people it’s the only way to see, hear and engage with loved ones who live far away, or even across the globe.

Just remember, with a little creative planning and perhaps some help from a more technologically savvy friend, you can do just about anything over Zoom or a similar platform. Businesses are running strong in this environment, and we can personally make it work for us too.

A few ideas:

• Weekly Advent readings with your friends or family. There’s a lot of resources for this one.

• Share a bedtime reading or during- the- day sessions for grandkids, nieces or nephews. Share the Christmas Story --about Jesus ‘ birth (not Santa or Elf on the Shelf). Sorry, my bias is seeping in here. Of course, choose your favorite book to share! There are so many great books, images, and resources for this one.

• Have a virtual party—the skies the limit on how to make this work from Karaoke, a Dance Party, Pictionary, or another group game. There are so many Apps available to help facilitate remote parties too, And some of the ideas in the Create-Your-Own Fun section can be applied virtually too.

• Digital Christmas Caroling is an option. Each location can sing different verses to the other location and join in together on the chorus—a great activity that is sure to get your laugh on.

Schedule After the Holiday Stuff

Sometimes, it’s just less hectic to plan experiences after Christmas, perhaps during the school break or into January. The stores and restaurants aren’t as busy, and I still sense that general feeling of well-being. It just seems to continue after the Christmas holidays.

Don’t let the calendar box you in. Oh yeah, you could celebrate Boxing Day as well!