There are people who prepare for Christmas all year long. Yes, those early shoppers who put the rest of us to shame, but there are others who take it to a much higher level. People who spend the entire year crafting hand-made presents and decorations, planning parties, designing recipes, and writing holiday cards and newsletters. Then, as December 25th grows closer they start decorating, baking and wrapping. That is great if you don’t have to work and have little children in your life. But, for the rest of us, who don’t have any elfin blood in our genealogy, Christmas comes just once a year.
While the world of commercials and advertising would have us thinking about the holidays well before Halloween, most of us will begin when the time is right for us. As humorist Dave Barry observes, “Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice.”
A great way to enter the holidays is with an empowering affirmation.
- I am free to choose how I spend my holidays.
- It is okay to take time for myself this holiday season.
- This year I will celebrate what Christmas means to me.
Most of us will begin to feel the Christmas spirit some time after Thanksgiving Day. For some it will be the scent of a fresh cut fir tree. For others a favorite Christmas song will get under their skin. Perhaps it will be the pleasant tones and rich voice of Nat King Cole singing, “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire; Jack Frost nipping at your nose;” that gets you in the mood.
While OHI is Christian-based, we embrace all faiths and beliefs. We believe the spirit of the season is best summed up by the words of Jesus when he said, in Mark 12:31, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” We embrace that spirit by creating a giving and loving community that shares care and support during the holidays, and throughout the year.
Community is the Key for Unlocking the Spirit of Christmas
As the spirit of the season starts plucking at our heartstrings, we hark back to our childhood and the magic that we remember. Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of The Little House on the Prairie, understood this when she wrote, “Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.”
It’s that ‘love of kindred’ that is the true magic of the season. The gathering together of friends and family; the connecting with our community that proves what the season is all about. Many Hollywood movies have attempted to capture this magic, but one has done it so well that it has become a classic.
George Bailey, in the movie, It’s A Wonderful Life, constantly helps other people, often to his own detriment, causing him to forego his personal goals and dreams. What he doesn’t realize is that, over the course of his lifetime, he has built an incredibly loving and supportive community. Then in a moment when his world starts to fall apart, his community comes to his rescue and saves him in his time of need.
At OHI, we understand that kind of community. We create it, add to it, and reinforce it every week of the year. We would love it if you would spend your Christmas with us. Here at OHI you will enjoy a peaceful and harmonious holiday with loving and supportive people.
American essayist, Hamilton Wright Mabie, sums it up the holidays beautifully, “Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.”
When you spend your holiday at OHI, you’ll be eating the delicious clean foods that energize your body. And, you’ll be maintaining your healthy lifestyle in a nonjudgmental and caring community. And, in the giving spirit of the season, bring your friends. What better way to enjoy the holidays than giving the gift of healing body, mind, and spirit to those you love.
To learn more about our holistic healing program in San Diego or Austin, visit Optimum Health Institute. We can help you achieve your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual goals for optimal health. To make your reservation, call us at (800) 588-0809.
