So this is Christmas…

So this is Christmas…

“So this is Christmas, and what have you done? Another year over, and a new one just ….” well, just around the corner.

But certainly another new one about to begin. This song, by John Lennon, still gives me a lump in my throat, and brings a tear to my eye. It really makes me think about the year that has been, the friends and family that have passed, the people who will be celebrating in so many different ways – the fact that Christmas should be for everyone.

When I hear John Lennon sing “what have you done”, to me the question is what have you done that is worthwhile. And I think that’s why I can get emotional, thinking “have I done enough”?

Enough to be a good person, in my own opinion. Enough to know that I have helped, in a positive way. Enough to sit back with a champagne and say “rejoice”. I probably get a bit too emotional at Christmas time, and probably should put on Jingle Bells Rock and enjoy a cocktail, but I can’t help think if we all just did a little bit …. Just a little bit more.

I’m not saying to not enjoy Christmas, and hey, who doesn’t enjoy spending Boxing Day surrounded by mountains of wrapping paper from a stack of present giving, in full recovery mode from way too much ham, champagne and general good cheer.

I’m not saying you should swap your beachside getaway holiday for two weeks of helping clean up the Philippines … although I, along with millions of others, would thank you if you did.

And I’m not saying you should cash in the iTunes cards you received to support a child in a third world country for a year.

I’m not even saying you should go down to your community Christmas lunch for the poor and give a hand – although I will be doing that.

What I am saying is, what if you think about what you could do throughout the year – and then imagine how you’d feel sitting back at Christmas and being able to say “you know what I did this year? I made a difference”.

It doesn’t have to be big, but maybe there’s a way you could help someone, or an organisation that helps lots of people, or the environment or animals. Maybe you could help build a house for people in disaster areas, maybe you could contribute financially to a worthwhile cause, maybe you could volunteer a little bit of your time.

Because, imagine if we all did? If we all gave just a little bit? Even if we all just started to care that little bit more? I think that’s a New Year’s Eve resolution we could all make … to help, just a little bit more.

So when I think about this being Christmas, and I look proudly at my son, I do think briefly about the one new years resolution I made that hasn’t been achieved – I haven’t found love, the partner that I was so open to finding. I didn’t even come close!

However, I have plenty of very funny disastrous date stories, which are great for dinner parties! But what I did do is achieve the resolution & goal that I could control – and that was to give more.

I have now been appointed, just at the end of this year, to the role of chairperson for my local health service and I volunteer my time working with the hospitals, health services and our community.

Through my business, I have donated product and event services to charity – my goal for next year is for those contributions to grow.

This goal sits right alongside my other big goal – to be the best mum I can be. In fact, I think it actually is part and parcel, to teach my son the values that I hold dear.

I am a single mum, running my own business and I have been passionate about contributing to not only my community but to organisations that can reach many more people than I can alone.

It has been rewarding, as well as humbling to see those with even less, give more. So if I can give just this little bit, I am hoping you might be able to find your way to give if you haven’t already.

I want to thank you, for giving me the privilege of writing this column for you for another year. I want to thank each of you who have taken the time to write to me.

I now (literally, I’ve just poured a champagne!) raise my glass to each and every one of you. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

With much love,  Abby
Don’t forget you can email me at [email protected]
PS please join me on Facebook or Instagram with either abbyjanecrawford or loveandprotect. See you there! xx

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