The Spirit of the Season.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays from all of us here at Stathakis. For many of us, the holiday season is a time to be with friends and family. It is a time to take stock of the year almost over and prepare for the start of a new year. For many, this season is about food, traditions and comfort. For our children, this time is about joy, presents, stockings, cookies and no school.

Whatever your feelings about the various holiday traditions celebrated, it is easy to see the value in the general feelings of connectedness and ‘good will toward man.’ The ‘spirit of the season’ reflects the gifts of good will, altruism, and generosity in both actions and mind. It is a time to reflect with gratitude, all of life’s blessings. 

Knowing many of us are celebrating and honoring many of the same or similar traditions can make us feel connected and kind towards our fellow humans, even complete strangers. Sometimes we do nice things for no reason and we let go of petty anger and irritation to enjoy the holiday. And yet it can be hard to maintain these warm feelings amidst life’s very real challenges. The other side of the season can rear its head with family squabbles, people fighting over toys and traffic and frustration during this busiest of seasons.

So enjoy the parties, cherish your families, open your gifts, and delight in your kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews. And as you soak in all the goodness that this time of year brings, turn some of your attention to making those feelings last a little longer and think about how you can keep that generous spirit with you everyday.