radvent day 24: magic

Posted on 24. Dec, 2011 by Princess Lasertron in radvent

It’s Christmas Eve! Are you loving the energy and excitement of the home stretch into Christmas weekend? Have you driven around to look at everyone’s lights? Have you counted the Christmas trees peeking through the frosty windows of the apartment buildings downtown? Have you worn thick socks and watched Christmas movies on tv while eating all the cookies you made for your friends? That’s what I’ve been doing. It’s the magic of the season, the suspense and excitement hanging in the air, the beautiful and all-too-fleeting permission to be a little happier, work a little less, and get some amazing gifts. As you take in the joy and magic this season, don’t forget to make some of your own!

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“Add magic every day.” It’s printed in my script on the backs of our business cards, it’s one of my most reliable mantras for inspiration and that exciting ass-kicking feeling I need to greet the world with every day, and it is a lot easier and less of a commitment than you might think. When you try to make the world more magical, you can’t fail. Whenever you throw positive intentions into the world, they multiply and soon come right back to you. Whether you reach your goal or not isn’t the point. The idea is to expect good things to happen and share the joy when they do. Reject the “mean world” philosophy. Say yes to the magic that greets you at the fresh, clean, blank start of every day.

Five Ways to Attract Charm for a Life With More Magic

1. Do something nice for somebody.

Extend kindness, a compliment, or a favor to somebody in your life–and I’m talking especially when you don’t feel like it. Get off your butt and lend a hand because providing service to others makes your life richer. It makes you produce more positive energy to come right back to you. When you begin to do anything, it creates an aura of action and intention that surrounds you and attracts exciting, lucky, happy things.

Things you can do to help people in ten minutes or less (set your timer!):

♥ Write a letter to somebody who recently impressed you. ♥ Clean the inside of your significant other or roommate’s windshield. Those get messy and we forget to clean them, but it’s so easy. ♥ Introduce yourself to a neighbor. ♥ Give yourself a budget of $5, $10, or $20 and buy something on Etsy. Send the seller a note about how excited you are to support them. ♥ Tis the season for the sniffles–go to your local drugstore and pick up things for a care package for someone who is under the weather. ♥ Tie a ribbon around a bottle of beer and leave it out for your roommate, significant other, or even your mom with a note saying they deserve a break. ♥ Read your favorite blogs and leave comments on their latest posts. ♥ Cut out a long rectangle from a cereal box in your recycle bin, write “Call me when you finish this!” and stick it in a book you recently enjoyed. Give it to a friend or family member. ♥ E-mail the newest worker in your office inviting them to grab coffee on Monday. Spare them the initiation process and show them the ropes. ♥ Donate to Charity:Water. ♥ Do the chore that your significant other or roommate usually does without telling them. ♥ Share your expertise by answering some questions on Yahoo! Answers. ♥ Tweet a joke. ♥ Fill up a box with things you don’t use anymore. Put it in your car to drop off at a donation center next time you go out. ♥ Buy the sandwich or coffee for the person behind you in line. ♥ Show appreciation, publicly.

2. My mom always said “Dance with anyone who asks.”

Just say yes! Respect the other person’s courage to ask you, and take the opportunity to display a little courage of your own. Show everyone else that they can be brave enough to dance and that you’re not too cool to have some fun. After all, we aren’t entitled to a dance partner, and someday the requests might stop coming, so it’s best to graciously accept and live it up. In my smug and somewhat sanctimonious younger years, I would push the polite gestures of others away, insisting that I didn’t need anyone’s gallantry. I was too cool for prom anyway, and if this was a pity dance, forget about it. The lesson here that I’ve learned as I’ve grown up is that you will find MANY people through your life who “want to dance.” You’ll get chances–personally and professionally–to risk leaving your comfort zone for an exciting but uncertain opportunity, and usually it’s just best to survey the room, tell your friend to hold your purse, and join the dance floor.

3. Start a real travel fund and don’t pick money out of it.

It’s important to know a little something about many different cultures–how to say “hello,” and “thank you” in other languages, for example–you can memorize dozens. How to pronounce the names of a culture’s most popular culinary dishes. Sensitivity to the unique experiences of others and curiosity about other world communities is a sign of respect.

4. Memorize your favorite quotes.

When you memorize your favorite quotes, passages, phrases, or even a poem or work of prose, you can always have them with you. It’s great to inject the wisdom of an astute quote or observation into a dinner conversation and be able to quote the author.

5. Flaunt your favorite pieces and source them from unique places.

This is your only life, and it’s your only chance to dye your hair pink or wear a dress to work or try out that purse you love but think everyone else will hate. I talk a lot about fashion and style as it’s a big interest of mine and also an important tool you can use to tell the world who you are and how you want to be treated. It may sound superficial or unimportant, but appreciating the objects and adornments that you accumulate over your years. Whether we’re talking about vintage hand-me-downs from your aunts and grandparents, treasures plucked from a thrift store, or pieces picked up at Target or Forever 21, the way you want to look right now will become a chapter in your life, a part of your history and identity. Have fun and take your place in pop culture! Take risks. Love the way you look, cultivate your identity, and appreciate the different and unique identities of others.

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Are you writing your own radvent responses in your journal or blog? Share the link! They are awesome sources of inspiration for everyone!

xo
meg

Tags: radvent 2011