Kind words are especially heartwarming
when you least expect them.
Bake cookies
or prepare meals
Home cooked meals and baked
goods are a special treat during the hustle
and bustle of the year. As our neighbors
get busy with everyday life, they may
not have the time to cook or bake. If you
are cooking for your own family, make
a double batch. Set aside time once a
month to try a new recipe and share it
with others. Your thoughtful act may en-
courage your neighbors to pay it forward.
Give gifts for no reason
How many times do we see some-
thing in the store and think about a
friend who it would be perfect for? Most
of the time, we don’t pick it up because
the next gift-giving occasion is months
away. It doesn’t have to be about the day,
nor does it need to be expensive. If you
see the perfect gift, pick it up and give it
to your friend now. People love to know
you are thinking of them.
Stay connected with
friends and family
How often do we say, “We should
pick a date and get together,” but never
find the time to do it? This year, make
good on that promise and set up a date.
Reconnecting with old friends and ex-
tended family is not only for holiday
time. Set up those play dates, host a party
in the spring, or go on a picnic in the sum-
mer. Grow your relationships beyond the
exchange of a yearly holiday card.
Talk about the ways your family
kept the holiday spirit alive each night
at dinnertime and create a positive habit
for yourself and your family. The magic
of the holiday spirit becomes a way of
life when you share it each day. It’s a
shame to bury it in a box full of orna-
ments and lights.
Pam Molnar is a freelance journal-
ist and mother of three. Her family en-
joys spreading the cheer long after the
holidays are over. Follow her on Etsy at
Pam’s Party Printables.
January 2019 WNY Family 7