Who Wouldn't Want More Holiday Cheer?

There is a Verizon commercial where the announcer asks "who wouldn't want more?" My favorite part is when the  little girl  says, very politely, "no thank you father" when offered  another gift. 

I understand that it's advertising and they want to convey that you get more services.  But it started me thinking -- do we really want more?

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Sometimes more isn't better.  For example, marketers are finding out that more content isn't necessarily better.  More words don't necessarily add to a poem or story.  And have you heard some one say "we have more channels and nothing good to watch"?

And more electronic options and social media channels to communicate don't seem to have drawn us together.  While it's convenient to be able to video chat with someone, how often do we do it vs. texting?

This is even more evident during the holiday season, where the pursuit of more is everywhere. For some it's more entertaining, more cookies, especially more gifts. Pressure is on to buy, buy, buy  -- by phone ads, diamond ads, perfume ads, even  new cars have bows on them. 

Because of this, many people feel stressed, overwhelmed or even depressed, depending on their situation in life. 

Some people might even look like this:

So if you're one of the people that is stressed or sad at the holidays, what can you do?  
Take a step back and look around you. Try to do things that inspire you instead of doing things that wear you down.

• If you're doing too much, don't automatically do everything you did last year.  Simplify! Be aware of what makes you grumble and see if it's necessary to do it. If you're hesitant to eliminate something, ask family and friends  what they enjoy most and concentrate on those.
• If you're lucky enough to have what you need, be grateful.  Being grateful can lift your spirits.
• If have enough resources to be comfortable, see how you might share with others who are less fortunate.  You probably already donate to charity,  but you can do more direct things as well.  Think of the last time you gave a tip to the tired clerk that helped you, or the person working for minimum wage behind the counter?  There are many people who have tough jobs or spend long hours on their feet  -- try to make their day.
• Even if you're just barely making ends meet, you can still try to make the world a better place.  It doesn't have to be something big.  Give someone an unexpected compliment. Smile and talk to the check out clerk and thank them. Let someone go in front of you in line. Call someone who might be lonely.

What do you do to increase your holiday cheer?  Please add in the comments.

Thank you so much for reading, I wish you the best of the holiday season!

Nancy