Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas

At Christmas time many people have a break from their normal routine and have time with family and extended family. There is often heady anticipation of holiday cheer. It is a busy time for families and often the preparation adds to the domestic burden. Spending time near people we don’t often see can lead to interesting dynamics. Families are not often straightforward. Christmas offers us a time to take stock, to count our blessings. We know from research that gratitude is a very powerful positive force and expressing it makes us feel good. In wintertime the vulnerable elderly may need more support. Checking on a neighbour is a kind and friendly thing to do. It’s also not only good for the person being paid attention to, it’s good for the person giving the attention too. The good news is that doing good makes us feel good.

In our family, party games feature heavily at this time of year. We play charades, card games and guessing games. Competition brings out various characteristics in different people. People react differently when we start to play games. Some react with joy and excitement. Some cringe and try and hide. We generate lots of laughter through using non-verbal means to try and get people to guess titles of films, plays and books. This requires a different way of paying attention. It’s interesting to see how people behave in these playful situations. Everyone reacts differently to being outside their comfort zone. Laughter is often generated both as a bonding force and as an expression of nervousness. Unfortunately, it may also be used as a divisive and derisive force. Raising our awareness of our own laughter can help us use it in a kindlier way.

Watching comedy on TV is a great way to generate good cheer. According to a recent poll, Friends and The Simpsons are great British favourites for unwinding and putting smiles on our faces. During the Christmas holiday in our household, we often look at favourite comedy programmes together. There is something special and cohesive about sitting down and sharing a laugh. Laughter creates powerful memories.

So, in taking stock this Christmas, let’s count our blessings and look for more shared laughter. Sharing laughter is a great way of reminding us that we are all in it together, bringing us closer.

Wishing everyone a Happy Christmas with lots of laughter.

Anna