Last year I turned 50. It was kind of a grouchy birthday for me. Mostly because it came with a colonoscopy and a membership to AARP. I mean, come on, that would even make Elmo a little grouchy. To offset the birthday blues, I used my favorite weapon: service. But I amped it up big time. I did an act of service every day for fifty days. And it was fantastic. It turned not just just my perspective around, but helped me to completely focus on others instead of myself and my non-problems. One of the people I would love to have at a dinner party would be C.S. Lewis. He said this about humility:

IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!

I love Christmas time. I feel strongly, that whether you are Christian and celebrate the birth of Christ, or you are of a different faith, or no faith, we ALL feel an increase of love for each other at this time of year. We have an increased desire to serve, give, and love. I call this Christmas spirit and I love anything that brings and multiplies it! So, I am dusting off my list last year of 50 small service activities I did and sharing them with you. Pick 5, 10, all 50, or none! But know that just thinking about serving and loving others increases the Spirit of Chritsmas!

Ideas 1-10

1. Double your cooking at dinner and wrap up the extra. Take it to a friend who needs it. Trust me, it’s cold/flu/unexpected visitor season. EVERYONE needs it.

2. Overtip your waiter. We’re talking ridiculously. (Not if they were a terrible server, of course!) But most waitstaff around here are college/high school kids trying so hard to save money. If I spent 10 bucks on lunch, I am happy to leave them 10 bucks for lunch and know I made their day.

3. Send flowers to your mother. Because NOW you get it!

4. Send flowers to your mother-in-law, because she raised an amazing son or daughter that you now have as a spouse.

5. Make your kiddos beds and leave a tuck-in treat. I know, some of the smells…😫. Just hold your breath.

6. Don’t complain. For an entire day. (This was freaking hard, btws. I had no idea my kids got all their masterful whining techniques from me!)

7. Doorbell ditch someone. Or Ding-Dong ditch someone. Whatever y’all call it. Feel free to leave ACTUAL Ding-Dongs. Or some other treat. This step is not optional. Otherwise, you made some tired mom get off the couch at the end of a long day, and there isn’t even an Amazon delivery on the porch!

8. Write an old school thank you note. On paper. And mail it. It’s such a lovely pick-me-up to know that someone appreciates something about you enough to take the time to write and physically mail an expression of appreciation to you.

9. Tell your hubby why he’s amazing. Physical attributes don’t count. (They’re extra credit. 😊). What does he do that no one else can? Make you laugh? Make you cry? Make you want to punch him in the throat? Make you feel cherished? Tell him. (Same for wives. I’m to lazy to be PC. Let’s just assume everything in here applies to both genders, k?)

10. Make some blessing bags. This was one of my faves. I put into a gallon bag, nice wool socks, a small first aid kit, hand lotion, lip balm, wipes, a five-dollar bill, a bottle of water, a few snacks. But there are some great ideas and a super cute printable HERE from thirtyhandmadedays.

IDEAS 11-20

11. Serve in a local service project for an hour. Need ideas? Check out JustServe. They can hook you up with local service opportunities.

12. Leave a treat in the mailbox with the flag up. Your poor, exhausted, underpaid mailman will thank you.

13. Pray for someone who has upset you. (Not the I-hope-lightning-strikes-her-kind of prayer, but the please-soften-my -heart-and-help me-forgive-prayer). Just so we’re clear. 😏

14. Send your Dad his favorite treat.

15. Send your father-in-law his favorite treat. (This was one of my fave surprises!)

16. Tell, text, skywrite, write a card, phone, (whatever method you like,) and let a friend know why they are amazing!

17. Surprise someone with something! Yes, you have to figure it out today! Trust me, you’ll know who needs it.

18. Round up loose shopping carts at a store. I tried to do ALL of them at Walmart. I had to quit after an hour. It was getting snowy and I was exhausted. Pace yourself or give yourself a time limit on this. You could be there all day.

19. Pay for the car behind you in the drive through. This one is so fun! Because it’s a total surprise! Just maybe don’t get in front of the high school basketball team bus…?!

20. Dump all your change in the donations box at the gas station counter.

IDEAS 21-30

21. Talk to someone new at church.

22. Take some seasonal treats to friends.

23. Make a list of ten specific things you are grateful for.

24. Take a treat to a friend who is sick or having a rough day.

25. Leave extra stacks of quarters at the vacuum at the car wash.

26. Let everyone merge in front of you today. Without swearing all the swears.

27. Share an uplifting thought or scripture on social media.

28. Mail a birthday package to a friend.

29. Take cookies to someone lonely.

30. Go to the temple or another house of worship.

IDEAS 31-40

31. Do a good deed for a stranger.

32. Leave some change in the vending machine.

33. Leave sticky notes with compliments on them on the bathroom mirrors in the school, store, gas station.

34. Leave a couple diapers and a pack of wipes at the diaper changing table in the store for someone who might need them.

35. Donate to Stand Up To Cancer in a friend’s name.

36. Clean out your closet and donate to Goodwill. DO NOT MARIE KONDO THIS. You will be stuck arguing with everything in your house about if they bring you joy, and what the definition of “joy” is, and what the definition of “bring” is….

37. Send a fun text to your kids

38: Send a fun text to your siblings.

(P.S. I actually Rickrolled some of them!!)

39. Throw a party for someone. Even if you have to make up the occasion.

40. Volunteer at your kid’s school

IDEAS 41-50

41. Be patient when the lines are SUPER long.

42. Spend some time on freerice.com. It’s a fun little trivia game and every point you get earns ACTUAL grains of rice for starving people.

43. Surprise a friend/husband/child with a treat.

44. Send some happy mail.

45. Heart attack someone’s front/bedroom door/car.

46. Take something to a new college mom/missionary mom.

47. Offer to babysit for new parents so they can have a date night.

48. Make it a point to smile and thank people sincerely today.

49. Pray about who you can serve today.

50. Set out water, soda, and treats in a bucket for all the delivery guys working so hard to deliver Christmas to our doorsteps.

LESSONS LEARNED

Most of the things I did were small, and either cost very little, or nothing at all. But they had a huge impact on my day, if not the days of those that received the service. Because I started my day with the mindset of looking outward and looking for ways to serve others, I was truly able to find more peace, joy and happiness. And also, overwhelming gratitude for my ridiculously blessed life. I hope you can find something here to help you “lose your life, so you can find it.” Merry Christmas!