SALT LAKE CITY — It’s quite fair to say my husband is what many would call a "bah humbug" type of guy. I, on the other hand, am not.

Although Christmas is far from my favorite holiday, I do enjoy the peace, joy and excitement that comes each year as the calendar turns.

We often hear people refer to Christmas as being for children because of toys and gifts and of course good old Santa Claus. But this isn’t so. Christmas isn’t just for children, it should be for everyone — adults, children and even the bah humbugs.

I’m not quite sure what makes a bah humbug become a bah humbug, but I do have a few ideas that may help Christmas be more enjoyable for those who disagree that it’s the most wonderful time of the year.

Believe

I always find myself drawn to Christmas decorations in stores that have one simple word on them: "Believe." I love that this single word encompasses so many aspects of Christmas.

Believe in what? Maybe it’s the tradition of Santa Claus, maybe it’s the deeper religious undertones of believing in Jesus Christ, or maybe it’s believing in the good spirit of Christmas.

It isn’t hard to believe that Christmas can bring out the best in people. Focus on believing in the goodness of the season. Notice the community elf trees, see the bell ringers outside a busy shop front, wonder if the toys filling someone’s shopping cart are for complete strangers, observe an adult sprinting from a front door after doorbell ditching a much-needed Christmas blessing, or visit a live nativity.

Believe in the magic of Christmas. It is all around us.

Experience

Although there is much to love about the Christmas season, we’ve already surmised loving the season doesn’t come easily for some. Don’t feel pressured to love Christmas, but make the effort to experience it. Listen to Christmas music you can tolerate, look beyond the beautifully wrapped gift and think of the thought that went into it.

See the beautifully decorated garlands on a banister and wonder about the effort behind it. Smell a freshly cut Christmas tree and bask in the beauty of it. Enjoy a taste unique to the season and relish in its brief appearance. Watch closely as a child places a stocking at the foot of his bed, or find a child’s eyes to look into on Christmas morning.

Experience the traditions and the season with your senses, not your wallet. You may be surprised to find the sights and sounds of Christmas will very slowly seep into your heart.

Remember

We live in a world that has made Christmas far more than the simplicity of a quiet night more than 2,000 years ago. With or without a strong religious faith, it should be easy to remember what Christmas is really about: a season to celebrate the act of giving.

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No longer do we live in simple times where finding a single orange under a tree is exciting. We live in a world that fills December with gift exchanges, dinner parties and all sorts of anxiety and stress that result from the search for the perfect gift or celebration. Take quiet moments to remember what Christmas is really about, despite the Christmas noises around you.

Ask yourself what Christmas really means to you. Remember past Christmases when you enjoyed the holiday the most. Open your heart more, and you’ll find it much easier to remember the reasons for the season.

With the exception of climbing into bed late on Christmas Eve filled with exhaustion rather than anticipation, I am a firm believer that Christmas is to be enjoyed and experienced far more deeply and personally than any price tag could ever give. We needn’t get so caught up in the inevitable commercialism that we forget to enjoy this wonderful time of year. Believe in the magic of the season, experience Christmas more fully, and remember what Christmas means to you.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if all of us enjoyed Christmas this year?

Tiffany Sowby is the mother of five children, ages 5 through 15. She loves the laundry five children generate, but could do without the sticky floors and dirty dishes. She blogs at www.ourmostofthetimehappyfamily.blogspot.com

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