Among the
seasonal cheer and chilly temperatures, winter is one of the busiest
times of year for many of us. Whether it’s gift shopping or making
time for friends, family and loved ones, there are plenty of things
to keep us busy during the coldest months of the year. However, as we
become increasingly pre-occupied and wrapped up in our own lives,
finding time for one another can be a particularly difficult task.
Instead of
focusing on the material aspect of winter and the festive season, we
should do our best to get back in touch with the people who surround
us each and every day. Care, kindness, compassion and generosity
should all be integral at this time of year, which is why it is so
important that you do what you can to welcome a little love back into
both your life and the lives of others around you.
So, with that
in mind, how can you go about welcoming some positivity and a greater
level of care into your thoughts and actions? Here are some top tips
which will hopefully provide the inspiration to get you started!
Kindness
It
costs nothing to be kind to someone, and this is a trait that can
easily be applied to many situations throughout life. Whether it’s
a simple smile and a compliment or taking some time out of your day
to be there for someone in their hour of need, once you begin to takea conscious effort to be kinder to people, it’s something that
will then continue to grow on its own. Plus, even if you don’t
believe in fate, once you begin to act nicer and consider how you
treat people, it won’t be long before you too begin to reap the
rewards of your own actions.
Charity
We all know
that Christmas is a time for giving, but how many of us actually
spare a thought for the many people who are in need around the world
at this time of year? With plummeting temperatures and bad weather,
winter brings a whole new host of difficult challenges for people to
face, be it the homeless in our own cities or refugee families and
orphans across the globe.
Even if it’s just a handful of loose
change in a charity collection box, an hour spent volunteering at
your local food bank or donating what you can to an appeal for the Rohingya, even the smallest
acts can go a long way towards helping someone in need.
Love
Of course, we
all have people who are close to us and those we appreciate and care
for no matter what. Whether it’s your family or a good friend, it’s
always nice to show an additional degree of love, care and attention
to your loved ones at this time of year. From clearing your schedule
and organising meet-ups with friends and big family gatherings to
simply
picking out the perfect Christmas gift, sharing these simple yet
meaningful annual moments is the perfect way to strengthen your ties
and commit to spending more time together throughout the year to
come.
After all, the feeling of being loved and appreciated is one of
the best there is – wouldn’t you want to share it at this time of
year?
At the end of
the day, we should all do what we can to help our fellow human
beings. We all share this planet and when we work together, we are
far more likely to succeed and reach greater levels of success. For
that reason, even if it’s just a small act of kindness, try to
commit to making a change for good this winter.
*Collaborative piece
