Crystal Thompson, Features Editor

In the next couple of days, people across the globe will start preparations for another holiday season that will extend into the new year. Along with the stress of cooking large meals to satisfy family members aged 7 to 77, shopping for personalized gifts, decorating, and crowds comes the worry about finances, awkward moments around the dinner table, and a rush to make everything perfect. But there are so many who either don’t celebrate the holidays or don’t have anyone to celebrate them with. This is why self-proclaimed holiday gurus Leighanne and Angelique [last names omitted to protect their privacy] encourage everyone to extend more kindness to others during this time of year during an impromptu conversation. 

The mother-daughter duo has unique perspectives about Thanksgiving and Christmas, and they use it to offer a long list of suggestions for not just reducing and eliminating a lot of the pressure associated with celebrating, preparing for, and recovering from the holidays but also for increasing kindness. 

“One act of kindness can inspire the next person to be kind, which can inspire the next. Hopefully, before long, it’ll continue and create a chain reaction of kindness,” offers Angelique, who posits that it must be genuine. “Pay for the order of the car behind you. Don’t worry about how much it is. Just pay for it. That might prompt that person to do the same for the next car in line.” The idea of passing kindness forward echoed throughout the conversation. 

“Peace and love for everyone, every day of the holiday and beyond. These are the times of joy and celebration. When we care for one another, it makes it that much more sweeter,” says Leighanne. She smiles and nods her head before adding, “You know, people have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. It’s about love and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. For me, this is a time to show compassion for each other.” That compassion is what keeps many across the world kind throughout the holidays, even if they don’t believe or celebrate for those same reasons. 

Decorations and gifts aren’t the only way to share in the holiday joys and festivities. While Angelique enjoys putting up a different tree each year, Leighanne doesn’t mind spending her days calling around to make sure everyone is faring well during the season. If she doesn’t get the chance to visit them, at least she gets the chance to speak with them. “Everyone is so wrapped up in shopping and cooking and whatever else they do for the Christmas season that they don’t stop to take a moment to check in on their loved ones and friends. But I do. It’s important. Family is important,” says Leighanne. 

With that, Angelique and Leighanne fall silent in thought about the season before offering more suggestions for getting through the season. First, they are each adamant that no one should stress so much about gift giving, especially if it means going in debt. Next, Angelique encourages everyone to shop early to avoid the rush and crowds. She also suggests that people find out what others want for gifts before shopping. Leighanne follows up, adding that the food preparation should be completed in stages so that everything is ready to put together. “Make sure you have all your ingredients before you start cooking the holiday meals. There’s nothing worse than being in the middle of a dish and realizing you don’t have this spice or that. Make a list early on and shop for it long before it’s time to,” says Leighanne. 

Finally, with a jovial interruption, Quentin, another family member, arrives in time to add, “Just do everything with peace. I hope there is peace all over. We need more peace in the world.” Angelique agrees. “Yes. Peace. And we need to be kind all year round, not just during the holidays.” As the conversation closes, Leighanne provides a holiday wishlist request we can all get behind: “I wish everyone love, health, and strength during the holiday and every day.”