What is love? Love is a feeling that allows us to be connected to another person. It is without judgment, doesn’t demand, understands, empowers, is kind, empathic, giving, supportive, accepting, listens, cares, is unconditional and so much more.
It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful things in life. To be loved and accepted is one of the key ingredients to being happy.
Remember the song What the World Needs Now? It was written by Hal David, a lyricist who worked with Burt Bacharach, who composed the music in 1965.
“What the world needs now is love, sweet love,
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.
What the world needs now is love, sweet love
No, not just for some but for everyone.”
How true this is for today’s world. Anyone who has world awareness is more than conscious of the horrible things that are happening both at home and around the globe. Sadly, it seems that the recent vote in the U.S. has given permission to those who practice intolerance of others to find their voice.
I opened up my Facebook account one morning and the first thing I saw was a link to the old Carol Burnett shows where the cast cracked up too. It was a wonderful way to start the day and I’m still giggling. It reminded me that we used to laugh more than we do now.
As a result, I’ve made a decision. I am not going to watch the news for December. I am going to focus on kindness and love and laughter. I will drop money into the Salvation Army boxes, I may buy a coffee for the person in line behind me at the drive through coffee shops, I will smile at everyone I see and tell more jokes to my friends.
My family consists of myself and my 92-year-old mom. So I was especially delighted this summer when I was able to reconnect with a long lost cousin and her family. It was wonderful to meet her and her husband and it seems we have a lot in common. She has children and they have children — a ready-made family. An invitation to visit them at their cottage in the Muskoka’s next summer was given and it has warmed the cockles of my heart.
She sent me a photo of her family sitting around the Thanksgiving table and it said, “from your family”. It was just over-the-top-eye-leaking fabulous.
So this reconnection with family has made my heart sing and I wish that feeling of joy for everyone this Christmas. I feel so very grateful for this gift of family.
So, give the gift of you — perhaps via cookies you’ve made, a card that expresses how you feel, smile at everyone you see and express thanks to anyone who assists you in any manner. Do something kind for your family — offer to vacuum the house, clean the car, make supper, sweep the driveway, or phone someone you haven’t spoken to in a while.
There are so many ways to recognize people with the gift of you. Personally, if someone has made me laugh, lightened my load or helped me to feel better about myself, I remember that person. It has a spin-off effect and I know it will help to make you feel happier too.
Spread the Christmas love and hopefully extend it throughout the coming year.
Thank you and best wishes to everyone who reads my column every month. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy 2017.