Spreading holiday cheer through kindness
Snow dusts Utah State University’s campus in a light film of milky white. Festive signs stick out of the ground advertising events and students shuffle around adorned with puffy coats and festive gear, signaling a beginning to the holiday season. As the holidays come around the corner, students may be wondering how to get more fully into the holiday spirit and spread holiday cheer.
For many individuals, spreading holiday cheer means being kind. It means going out of one’s way to ensure that others feel loved and respected. Alyssa Gaither, a sophomore at USU studying Civil Engineering, noticed people tend to be more polite during the holidays. In her opinion, this atmosphere constitutes the holiday season.
“The politeness, the kindness, offering help, and those small things are really what makes the holidays in my opinion,” Gaither said.
Ellie Holcomb, a freshman at USU, agrees with Gaither in that she believes the holiday season is about being kind. “I think it just means around the holiday days just being kind to everyone,” Holcomb said.
Some ways students can spread an atmosphere of kindness during the holiday season include donating to organizations, helping those in need and showing loved ones they matter through small actions.
“Make them gifts that are homemade and personal to them, rather than going out and supporting big stores,” Jentrie Gilliland, a freshman at USU, said of serving loved ones.
In the past, Gaither has spread holiday cheer by volunteering in the community. One of her favorite holiday memories is holding a Sub for Santa event as a part of the National Junior Honor Society. For the event, she helped provide a free meal and gifts for children in the community who might not get presents otherwise.
“Just seeing that happiness in their eyes as they have a really good holiday memory,” Gaither said. “That’s one of my favorite memories when it comes to spreading holiday cheer.”
This year, Gaither plans on giving some of her online friends who she met through discord and who might be having a hard time currently gifts.
“It’ll make them see that even though they’re in a rough time that they’re not forgotten,” Gaither said. “And that they’re cared for.”
While the holidays are usually pictured as a happy time full of family gatherings, love and joy, they can also be a difficult time for some individuals. Expectations for the holidays, temperature and lighting changes, and reminders of the past can combine to create a stressful environment.
Gilliland suggests those having a hard time during the holidays take time for themselves. Although serving others is an important aspect of the holidays for many, taking care of oneself should be a priority.
“The holidays are supposed to be about being nice to other people, but you have to be nice to yourself first,” Gilliland said.
Gaither advises getting out of the house and enjoying the holiday scenery.
“Even just looking around seeing all the beautiful lights,” Gaither said. “That different atmosphere is really what can change your mind.”