Happy Holiday's Pay It Forward Ripples

November was about gratitude.  Saying thank for your blessings and gifts.  Honoring those in your personal life that make a difference.  It is now December.  Time to gift forward - sharing in the energy and love that gave thanks for in November.

I was asked how to start a tradition.  How does one begin something like the Gratitude Tree of November for themselves.  My answer?  Just start.  It is all about action of giving and gifting in December.  A celebration.  A joyful time to see and cause others to break into smiles.  It is not about the cost of the gift or even the monetary value to anyone but the one receiving the gift.

So some traditions of my own for December.  Chinese food for Christmas Eve dinner.  Buying a single Ornament for the tree as a family that represents our year as a family.  This year - well it will probably be a M & M ornament (yes there is a story there - there always is).  Picking a name off the local gift giving tree and going shopping with my teenagers to make that family's day brighter (though last year we adopted a family and got others to buy gifts for the family as well to make their day extra special).  We buy one present for each of my children and the rest of the giving is to those who don't get gifts.  Holiday cards - but not to family and friends.  The only cards we mail are to soldiers who are away from home for the holidays (this year that includes my own daughter).  There will be a bonfire and some board games played.

And then there is social media.  How do you celebrate the holidays on social media?  This year I am doing Happy Holidays Pay It Forward.  Here is how it works.  I posted a blog post on my social media pages and offered to gift five people a handmade gift by the end of the month. In return, they will ripple it forward.  They will do the same extending the ripple by five.  And so the ripple goes.

The gifts do not have to have monetary value; just something that you create yourself.  Drawing, photograph, poem, or for those willing to share privately their address a person could knit a scarf, paint a watercolor post card.  The point is to share YOU, YOUR creative soul.  The idea is  simply to share YOUR creative soul with others, to share YOUR generosity and gratitude with others.

It is my Holiday Celebration on Social Media.

I wish you all a very Happy Holiday Season.  Spread some love, some good cheer, and ripple out some gratitude.