This year is different….for the first time in many years, I look forward to Christmas Eve.  I talked with a friend yesterday and she, too, is strangely happy three days before Christmas.  We couldn’t pinpoint why this year and not last.  Two things may have contributed to my Christmas spirit: One, I took the pressure off of myself to do everything.  I only did the fun things.  And things that don’t take too much energy (see # 2 in attached article).  Two, I sang in our church choir’s Advent offering to our parish.  Now, I have a complicated relationship with organized religion and Christianity.  I don’t believe much of it, certainly not in a literal way, and yet I participate anyway.  There was something so wonderful about singing the ancient songs Sunday – it made me happy (see #1 in attached article).  What will you do to feel something warm, good, generous and alive this week?  For a thought or two, read this.