At the end of A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens says this of Ebenezer Scrooge: "it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge."  And he goes on to wish: " May that be truly said of us, and all of us!"

Think about the things we only do at Christmas.  We gather with family.  We correspond with distant friends. We cook and bake and have proper meals around the table with the good china and silver and linens.  We open our homes.  We are generous with each other and with the less fortubate.

Why only for Christmas?  Why are Christmas cards the only letters we write?  Why does the china languish to gather dust apart from 5 weeks a year? 

Imagine what our lives would be like if we kep Christmas well all year long.  We would keep in contact with our loved ones.  We would eat better.  We would be known for our hospitality and generosity.

And the holidays would be less stressful.  After all, one of the reasons that the holidays are stressful is because the actions are rare and unfamiliar.  If you haven't communicated with someone since last Christmas, you have a lot to write in your Christmas note.  If your idea of cooking is taking the rotisserie chicken out of the plastic container before you serve it, a holiday meal is a huge undertaking.

So here is your challenge:

• Once a month make a phone call or drop a note to someone on your Christmas card list.  That's only 11 calls or letters all year!  And, yes, an email is ok.
• At least once between now and the beginning of October, invite at least 2 guests (at the same time) to your home for something social — lunch, dinner, tea, movies and popcorn, pizza and board games — it doesn't need to be fancy.  Just do it.
• Once every quarter, serve dinner at the dining room table with the china and the silver and the table linens.  Break out that rotisserie chicken if you want, but do it on the good china.

Don't save it all for Christmas Day!