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Give gift of giving all year

As I sit basking in the glow of my artificial sunlamp, it dawns on me that there are only three weekends left before Christmas.

As I sit basking in the glow of my artificial sunlamp, it dawns on me that there are only three weekends left before Christmas.

Do you know what you really want for Christmas? A few people might be wishing for more heartfelt things like a loved one pulling through chemotherapy treatments or a homecoming with a family member who was deployed in the Armed Forces.

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, there is an element associated with the holiday that is universal.

It is the element of caring. But there are a many more ways to let your loved ones know that they mean a lot to you and it shouldn't only be once a year.

First, don't just have good intentions to do something for someone else - actually do it.

If you promised to build a tree house with the kids, build it. If you heard your friend say she wants to see a particular movie, go with her.

Put up someone else's lights, shovel someone else's driveway, take baking to the senior's centre - whatever you feel might be appreciated.

You have the opportunity to make special memories every minute of every day. It's the thought and the time spent together that are of value.

Second, support the people you care about simply with your presence. Sit in the front row at the play in which they have a non-speaking role.

Suffer through the Grade 6 clarinet rendition of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. It might feel torturous, but there aren't many feelings that are better than looking up and seeing that someone showed up specially to see you do your thing.

Third, don't take the people you care about for granted. Always thank a person when they do something that benefits you, even if it's something they always do for you like laundry, cooking, or paying the bills. It's easy to forget how much other people do for us.

Fourth, be patient. We are all very busy. At the end of the day, we have to ask ourselves if what we got accomplished was more important than our relationships with others.

Maybe it's OK to not go to the bank if you run into a friend you haven't seen since high school and she asks if you want to go for coffee. Maybe it's OK if the reports don't get done until tomorrow because it's a sunny day and your son asked if you would like to go for a bike ride.

Fifth, be happy. If you smile a lot and you are genuinely relaxed while you are spending time with a person, that will show how much you care.

Ask yourself which people you would be sad to lose in your life. Then ask yourself if you have been putting aside time to show them that you care.

I just realized what I want for Christmas. I wish there was an atmosphere of caring all through the year. I could use some socks too. Happy Holidays.

Danielle Aldcorn is a registered clinical counsellor at the Satori Integrative Health Centre, 12004 No. 1 Rd.