Happy holidays to all my wonderful friends out there. Hope you’re enjoying every minute of this wonderful season.

I wanted to share a story with you that happened to me a few years back, and has stuck with me ever since. It was at least 10 years ago, and I was shopping in the last couple of days before Christmas. Definitely a difficult time to shop as so much had already been bought by others. The store was packed. People were shoulder to shoulder picking over the last of the merchandise.

I noticed this older woman a few feet away from me who seemed to be having the best time shopping. She was smiling, and chatting with people briefly as they passed. Others were sort of cranky and hurried looking trying to get done and out of the store. But, the other thing I noticed was this little tiny bag-like thing around her waist. It was small…sort of like a fanny pack. On it was written, “Don’t forget.” I wondered what that meant. Did she have a list inside or something of gifts she didn’t want to forget to buy?

I continued my shopping, and encountered her again a few minutes later in a different aisle. My curiosity got the best of me and I asked her about the bag. She grinned the brightest smile I’ve ever seen. She reached in and pulled out a couple of pieces of paper with writing all over them and held them up. “I add to them every year,” she said.

“Add to what?” I asked her. My list of things I don’t want to forget to carry with me from the holiday season. On her pages she had written the words, ‘love, hugs, lots of smiles, laughter, volunteering, buying gifts for no reason,’ and so much more. “I keep it with me at all times so I don’t forget.”

That was the most beautiful thing I’d ever heard. I have my own “Don’t forget,” list now. I have many of the same that she had written hers, and my own personal ones, like generosity, magic, belief, enjoy the beauty of the day, and so much more.

The world gets so more loving, giving, generous and happy this time of year. Like that dear woman, I want to ‘not forget’ to carry those things with me all year long.

I’ve given you some of the things on my list. What are yours?