Taking the Time to Find the Joy

Oh there's no place like home for the holidays. Watching cheesy Christmas movies on Netflix...

These cheesy movies usually have a good message for us, about the real value of Christmas. And it's important we slow down to recognize the value of this season, and that we take the time to make ourselves have the breathing room to see the overlooked things. It's important that we take time to look out the window to see the stars and the moon, and time to spend with loved ones.

Working in the retail industry, it's so easy to get caught up in the the gift itself instead of the sentiment behind it. In our culture even, it's hard to not focus on the commercial side instead of the spiritual side, so we must make it a point to.

This season we need to make our family and friends our number one priority - by going the extra mile to do something special! It doesn't have to be anything big, or shiny, or expensive - but it has to be from the heart. Take the extra minute to write a thoughtful card with your gift, and to give them a hug!

I take pictures on the side of managing Possibilities to make ends meet, and I just had a Christmas Angel offer to purchase a portrait session for a family in need.

This family had posted in the buy/sell/trade page that they were looking for a photographer to do a cheap session so they could have pictures for Christmas and people kept tagging me - and me of course, with my eyes and heart shut, didn't reach out to this family. I ignored that notification and the opportunity to reach out and spread God's love at Christmas. That was til last night, when a friend messaged me asking if I'd heard from the family. When I said no, she offered to pay for the cost of a session for this family, as a gift of generosity and love to the world! How amazing is that!

I, of course, mentioned to her that I'd cut my price in more than half for a family in need, and I got ahold of the mom! I'm so excited to do this shoot and I just can't believe how great it feels to be taking the time to give a gift! And to go out of my way for someone else in the spirit of Christmas! You can do this too and feel this great feeling and it's so easy!

Give a gift to your neighbor and spend extra time with your loved ones just letting them know you care! Take the extra time, go the extra mile, and BE INTENTIONAL. Wake up from the crazy and hussle and be your best, most giving self this year. Go out of your way to #ShopLocal and support your community ;) We only get so little time to celebrate and make this the most wonderful time of the year, so dig deep, reconnect with that inner joy, and feel the joy that comes from spreading holiday cheer. Let your heart grow.

We so believe that we have to be the change we want to see in the world, and we can be the glow that makes this Christmas an amazing one. Christmas from all of us at Possibilities.

XO

E