The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions–the little soon-forgotten charities of a kiss, a smile, a kind look, a heartfelt compliment in the disguise of a playful raillery, and the countless other infinitessimals of pleasurable thought and genial feeling. – Samuel Taylor Coleridge

What’s the appropriate protocol for sharing a good mood?  Now that it’s the holiday season, my inbox has begun to fill with newsletters focused on how to survive the worst time of year.  Apparently, starting around Thanksgiving we are collectively reminded of how lonely, depressed, and miserable our lives are, and it doesn’t let up until sometime after New Year’s.

I originally wasn’t going to mention the holidays in my own mailing because I am guilty of rather enjoying them, and it doesn’t seem politically correct to be happy.  Not that I don’t experience stress around this time of year, or at times feel jarringly reminded of ways in which my life is empty and sad, but because my childhood glee for Christmas has never faded.

I was raised in an observant household with two different religions: my father is Jewish and my mother Catholic.  We hunted for chocolate and played dradle every Hanukkah, and received presents on Christmas.  I have a sense memory of joy associated with the holidays that has only grown with time.

This may be helped by the fact that I hate shopping with an ardent passion, so it never occurred to me to do it for the holidays.  I use the opportunity to create gifts from the heart which speak to what I admire and love about the people around me.  I see it as an opportunity to express my admiration for my friends, and give things that might remind them of how wonderful they are.  Hence I have never found the gift-giving aspect to be stressful, and I enjoy both winter and time with my family.

The truth is I’m excited about all of it, and have an inner countdown of the days left until Christmas (23).

So what does one do when one is happy?  Is it okay to be at ease when others are in stress?  We spend so much of life trying to figure out what it takes to be happy, what do we do when we realize we are?

My answer so far has been to share appreciation.  I focus on expressing what I like about the moment, or the people around me.  I imagine happiness as a pure energy that can connect with and awaken the joy in others.  Maybe sometimes it’s okay to enjoy life, and maybe if we give ourselves this permission it then gives permission to others.

I don’t know.  I just know I’m happy because the holidays are here, and I want to share.