How to Find Joy Beyond the Christmas Season

Christmas is a magical season that doesn’t have to end on December 25th. Would you like to know how to live with joy beyond the Christmas Season? Follow Me!

Put simply, do you ever experience a feeling of disappointment when December 25th has so quickly come and gone? Evergreen Yuletide is all about the heart of Christmas. The ONE DAY along with Santa’s visit becomes anti-climatic in comparison to the anticipation of the day and the flurry of seasonal activities. In other words, do you ever wish that the joy of the Christmas season would continue throughout the year?

What’s more, I am certain that I am not alone in this vision of year-long joy. Do any of you leave a little piece of Christmas out all year-round? For instance, I left a small artificial holly branch mixed in with my artificial red and white roses for Valentines Day. Hence, my little piece of Christmas is there to remind me to live with the heart of Christmas.

Those of us who cherish the heart, warmth, and love that the Christmas season inspires experience a certain sense of sadness when it is time to dismantle the creche, take down the tree, and put the lights and decorations away. As a result, we need to find ways to prolong that joy throughout the year.

Balancing Joy and Sorrow

First and foremost, for many of us, living with the heart and joy of Christmas throughout the year can seem elusive –but is it really out of our reach? For instance, even when sorrow has left a deep wound in our hearts, we still try to capture the essence of the season if not for ourselves than for those whom we love. I lost my sister in July of 2023. Then, in October I brought my mother home from rehabilitation for bilateral knee fractures that had happened at the end of May. It was a struggle for us to get through that first Thanksgiving without my sister, Pamela, and then along came the Christmas season.

Consequently, we were not filled with cheer, but faith was always the center of our Christmas celebration. Because of our faith, we set up the advent wreath and our nativity focusing on two of the three words that begin with the letter “f” that encompassed our every celebration. Faith and family brought us through the season; however, fun did not fit in to our small gathering.

Meanwhile, I didn’t know things were going to get worse, but just thirteen days later, I suffered a blow that kept me in an emotional darkness for a good part of 2024. My mother, Marilyn, passed away unexpectedly. Have you ever found yourself going through the outward motions “required” during the holiday season while internally you withdraw and protect your broken heart?

Living With The Heart Of Christmas

As a result, the combination of my recent sorrow coupled with my many wonderful memories of Christmas with my family I am inspired to write this blog. Living with the heart of Christmas helps me to focus on the blessings that I have, namely, my mother’s and sister’s unending love as well as the blessing of so many cherished memories. They remind me that life is meant to be lived and shared all year long, not just at Christmas.

It is not about gifts, parties, cards or food. In other words, those items are just accessories to the real gift of Christmas which is love. Will you join me on this journey? Does your heart desire to spread kindness and generosity year-round?

The Real Christmas Legacy

Put simply, this isn’t just my story; it belongs to all of us. Embark on a journey to find joy instead of momentary happiness. You might be asking yourself, “What is the difference between happiness and joy?” The answer is simple. Happiness is found in the moment like when the wrapping paper is ripped off the gift. It is temporary or fleeting. Joy is the lasting feeling or memory of the gift that we are to each other. It is found through our sharing of love, faith and gratitude with others. To illustrate this concept, Does the child remember the happy moment when the gift was unwrapped or the hours of make believe play with others?

Moreover, I think that we can agree that the hours of carefree dreaming, laughter, and time spent with others in play far exceed the momentary happiness of unwrapping a gift. Joy lasts! Additionally, by joining with me on this journey, Evergreen Yuletide blogs will:

Share ideas on how to spread kindness and generosity throughout the year.

Present some useful downloadable templates for organization and fun.

Provide enchanting Christmas travel destinations that are open year-round.

Deliver inspirational stories to help you live with joy 365 days a year.

Assist you in developing strategies to enjoy the real Christmas season.

Encourage you to build a village of support.

Evolve and grow as a community of joyfully, like-minded individuals.

Think of the difference that living with the heart of Christmas throughout the year will make in your life and the lives of others. Together, we can transform ordinary moments into extraordinary memories. By engaging through comments, we can have honest discussions about overcoming seasonal stress or sadness, and we don’t have to do it alone. What’s more, we can share fun ideas throughout the year while constantly spreading Christmas cheer.

Not A One-Time Event

The theme of Evergreen Yuletide is dynamic, engaging and addictive. Join me on this journey to year-round joy as we become a community of friends or maybe even a family! Watch us grow like a giant snowball rolling down the hill as we spread the joy of Christmas 24/7 – 365!

Whether you love Christmas or find the season difficult to endure, Evergreen Yuletide is a welcoming community where, together, we learn to live each day with joy. I am excited to make this journey with you! As a result of sharing ideas and supporting one another, we’ll transform fleeting moments into enduring joy! Ultimately, what does Christmas mean to you? Let me know below – I’d love to hear your story.

Love you with the heart of Christmas,

Paula

“Peace on earth will come to stay when we live Christmas every day.” -Helen Steiner Rice