Ah, you want some sparkle!
Good for you, dear. Joy isn't always easy to find, but you're looking for it, and that's half the magic right there. Let's sprinkle some Christmas cheer on this day, shall we?
— Mrs. Claus
Little things that bring the magic
Make something warm
There's magic in a warm mug. It's not about the drink — it's about the pause. The way your hands wrap around it. The steam rising. The first sip that says, "This moment is yours." Go to the kitchen and make yourself something cozy. I'll wait.
Find your Christmas song
Everyone has one — that song that makes it feel like Christmas. Maybe it's a classic carol, maybe it's something silly, maybe it's the one that always played at your grandmother's house. Put it on. Turn it up. Sing if you want to. Dance if you dare. Pepper dances when he thinks no one's watching. It's quite a sight.
Look at the lights
Christmas lights are one of humanity's best ideas, if you ask me. Tiny sparks of hope strung together against the dark. If you can, take a walk tonight and look at them. Or look at your own tree. Or just light a single candle. There's something about light in December that feels like a promise.
Write down three good things
Not big things. Little things. The way your coffee tasted this morning. A song that came on at the right moment. A cozy sock. Three tiny good things, written down, can shift something in your heart. It's not about being grateful when you're not feeling it — it's about noticing what's already there.
Give something tiny
It doesn't have to cost anything. A compliment to a stranger. A text to someone you've been meaning to reach out to. An extra cookie left for the mail carrier. A moment of kindness given freely, with no expectation. That feeling you get after? That's Christmas, dear.
Watch something classic
You know the one. The movie you've seen a hundred times that still makes you feel something. Put it on, even if you've seen it this year already. Wrap yourself in a blanket. Eat something you love. Let the familiar story wash over you like an old friend come to visit.
A little Christmas challenge from Pepper
Pepper says: "I challenge you to do ONE silly thing today. Just one! Wear a Santa hat to the grocery store. Sing carols to your pet. Wave at someone through a window. Christmas is supposed to be fun, you know. Even Mrs. Claus puts sprinkles on things that don't need sprinkles."
(He's right. I do. 🎉)