Verified by 
The holidays are a time of celebration with friends and family.
Though we are apart from loved ones this season, we don't have to miss out on the gifts the holidays have to offer. The following are tips for maintaining the spirit of the holidays this year.
Giving Gifts:
To give is better than to receive. The act of gift-giving is part of what makes the holidays so wonderful. This is a season of tremendous gift-giving opportunities. Think environments this season.
Embracing Comfort Indoors
- The Danish call it "hygge." It basically means coziness. Embrace the ability to cozy up at home. Embrace warm scented candles, calming lighting (Himalayan rock salt lamps), comfy (fuzzy and furry) clothes, decadent foods and drinks (pies, cocoa kits, novel coffee flavors).
Making Outdoor Social Distancing Easier
- Gifts like warm clothing, hand and feet warmers, or acts of service like an outdoor meetup where you bring blankets and cocoa for everyone or host a campfire are great ways to come together safely.
Connecting with loved ones:
Though the holidays are usually in-person, they are typically limited to the people around your tree, menorah, kinara, or Festivus pole.
This year offers an unprecedented opportunity to reach out to an unlimited number of people to share your holiday cheer.
For decades we have sent Christmas cards to those separated by distance. This year offers a great opportunity to virtually connect rather than just sending a holiday card.
Celebrating miracles:
You don't have to be religious to celebrate miracles. Miracles are simply amazing things that shouldn't happen but do.
Even during COVID, there are many miracles around us. All we have to do is notice them.
Here are a few to get you started:
Think about the centuries of technological and medical knowledge that have been carefully passed down through the pain-staking education of every new generation who then adds to this knowledge base and continues passing it down so that the next generation's lives can be just a little bit easier than theirs were.
The grocery store. We forget the complex food supply chains that allow us to pick up an astounding variety of food whenever we want. Other people work 'round the clock to plant, cultivate, care for, harvest, store, and transport natural healthy foods (and some delicious not-so-healthy foods) to our local grocery stores for us to pick up whenever we feel like.
The essential workers who show up for their job every day, no matter whatever else is going on in the world.
There are so many miracles (and people) to be thankful for this season, so many friends and family to share our love with, so much coziness, and so many wonderful gifts we can share that I look forward to some much-needed coziness and connection this holiday season.
Grab a cup of cocoa, your fuzziest blanket, a slice of pecan pie, and FaceTime your mother.
