Happiness Project: Enter into the Spirit of the Season.

I’m working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone’s project will look different, but it’s the rare person who can’t benefit. Join in -- no need to catch up, just jump in right now. Each Friday’s post will help you think about your own happiness project.

We’re entering the holiday season. People approach this in different ways.

My mother, for example, loves to collect and present beautiful things. Her Christmas decorations are breathtaking. Also, along with three decorated trees and many beautiful arrangements, she gets seasonal plants like paper-white narcissus flowers, poinsettas, and evergreens.

I’m an under-buyer (as opposed to an over-buyer), so I never get around to buying decorations, and I can never bring myself to buy flowers or plants. Also, I’m always looking for ways to be efficient and get a lot done, so I begrudge the time it takes to put up decorations.

But I realized – even before my happiness project – that I had to push against my inclinations in this area. Entering into the spirit (whether of a holiday or a season of the year) is a resolution that’s a struggle for me to keep, each time, but I also know that it gives a major boost of happiness.

So I figured out how to enter into the spirit in my way. My mother bequeathed me some of her decorations – Halloween and Christmas – so I didn’t have to assemble them. Once when she was in New York during the holiday season, I had her arrange the decorations; I took photos; and now I arrange them EXACTLY the way she did. I still don’t buy plants. That’s all I can manage, but that’s enough.

Samuel Johnson observed, “There is, indeed, something expressibly pleasing, in the annual renovation of the world, and the new display of the treasures of nature.” Entering into the spirit of a holiday or season, in whatever way works for you, is a powerful source of happiness. Maybe it’s spring, maybe it’s the end of school, maybe it’s the Fourth of July, maybe it’s Ground Hog Day…every holiday or season doesn’t suit everyone, but look for ways to celebrate a particular time of year.

Like many things that boost happiness (unfortunately), this resolution can be a pain. It takes time, it takes energy, it takes money, it takes planning. But in the end, it’s fun.

If you don’t have money to spend on decorations, look for ways to enter into the spirit that don’t cost anything. Seasonal food is a good way, and seasonal activities, like ice-skating or pumpkin-picking. If you’re craft-y, or if you have kids, it’s fun to make your own decorations.

One challenge to entering into the spirit is that some people get a kick out of making fun of what you're doing, and some people think it’s a waste of time. The Big Man doesn’t enter into the spirit, much – he doesn’t oppose it, but he doesn’t get into it. He didn’t even know that blue and white are the colors of Hanukkah until I told him. Oh well.

Maybe you’re thinking, “Hey, this just isn’t my style. I’m not going to get into the spirit.” Okay, some people just don’t enjoy it. But if that’s true, at least try not to dampen other people’s pleasure. Remember to shield your joyous ones; don’t make it harder for them to enter into the spirit. Admit it: even if you think it’s a waste of time and energy, don’t you get a kick out of seeing seasonal decorations?

Have you found any good ways to enter into the spirit of the season?

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Lots of interesting material on On Simplicity.

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Interested in starting your own Happiness Project? If you’d like to take a look at my personal Resolutions Chart, for inspiration, just email me at grubin, then the “at” sign, then gretchenrubin dot com. No need to write anything more than “Resolutions Chart” in the subject line.

Comments

[Mark W.]

I like your ideas on the seasonal food and seasonal activities to get into the holiday spirit. I have all sorts of decorations but getting them out and displaying them all is almost like work. Then you have to gather them up and put them away at the end of the season. I got an idea, though, after reading this post. I'm just going to pick out a few items that I really like and mean something to me and display them. That's less effort and yet I'll still have decorations around. Thanks.

[The Healthy Librarian]

I just have to share my Thanksgiving light bulb moment!!

Try it for your own holiday season if the situation applies.

My family all lives out-of-town, so when I celebrate holidays (like Thanksgiving), I'm hosting lots of sleep-over guests & cooking many meals.

I always took the tack of planning ahead--cooking everything ahead that I could--being semi-annoyed that my tidy house instantly had stuff strewn everywhere, as soon as the guests arrived--and I was more than a little resentful that I was doing all the work.

I'd wake up before everyone & start cooking to get a head start. Then I'd play hostess all day while everyone just relaxed.

Duh!!! Light bulb!! I was the one making those choices!! There was a better, more fun way.

This year all that changed!! It was fantastic!

I took a day off of work to shop. Why add extra stress? I had everyone in charge of different dishes.

I didn't make anything ahead. I didn't over-clean. Why bother? I gave up caring how the house looked when 8 guests descended.

Thanksgiving morning my sister & I went for a 2 hour spinning marathon class while everyone else slept in & then made their own breakfasts from the lox, bagels, coffee, & juice I had stocked in the fridge.

We all cooked together during the day--cleaned up after ourselves--jointly spread out a lunch--watched movies--talked--laughed--played a game--listened to music--set the table--drank wine & beer--took naps--

And by 7:00 PM we'd put out a fantastic & relaxed Thanksgiving dinner together. It wouldn't have mattered how late we ate. And then we cleaned up together!

Never again will I go back to old ways!

Oh, & Gretchen, I rarely buy the flowers or plants either! And I'm a reformed under-buyer. Love that term!

www.happyhealthylonglife.com

[Bryan Karl]

I really love the Holiday Season. I guess everyone are happy and carefree during these times.

[Paige]

I do enjoy decorating my home, and I am trying to simplify the holiday season and enjoy siple beauty. I like to decorate slowly and appreciate the nice things I do have. My mother has given me some great pieces and we frequent HOme Goods and Marshalls for other good stuff.

Last night I put up my Cristmas village, which I LOVE. Now I will admire that for a few days and proceed as I feel.

Welcome to the holiday season! Have fun.

[LifeMadeGreat]

Hi Gretchen

The company where I work arranges a party for kids at an orphanage. Giving to the less fortunate can bring lots of spirit. Especially kids ands presents!

Juliet

[Karen T.]

I try to find ways to make the work of getting things out "worth" the effort. For example, I get the Christmas china out right after Thanksgiving and replace the everyday china with it. Then we use the Christmas china for every meal until New Year's when I put it away. When I bring out the everyday stuff again, it feels new - like the year.

Second, I try to do something fun while I'm doing something not so fun. For example, putting decorations up almost always feels fun to me; it's taking them down that's the drag. So, I watch "White Christmas" while I'm taking everything down and packing it away. Watching the movie is one last bit of "Holiday" fun and tradition to finish off the season and head into the new year.

[wyliesage]

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