7 Tips From Santa Claus

What is it about the jolly ol' elf? No matter what your age is, pictures of him can make a grin curl up to your cheekbones. The white flowing beard, rosy cheeks, twinkling eyes and boisterous, "Ho, ho, ho" that makes his belly jiggle, all act as reminders that no matter what, there can be joy, hope and peace in the world.

There have been many renditions of Santa Claus, a.k.a. Saint Nick, Father Christmas, etc. over the centuries. Many of us grew up with the "Coca Cola" Santa. His face was everywhere, on billboards, soda cans, magazines and even on TV. Others recall a Santa clothed in snow white fur carrying an evergreen tree lit with candles, or the "real" Santa on the black and white Christmas movie classic, "Miracle on 34th Street".

The fact is this it is good to be surrounded by the images of Santa this time of year. Things can get so bustling. Good and bad memories often surface during the holiday season, so it's easy to become overwhelmed by the "ghosts of Christmas past". People can become panicked over whether they will have the money to buy their kids the latest toy or electronic gadget, or their wife that diamond pendant advertised on TV every hour on the hour. What do you get the boss? The kids' teachers? The kindly neighbor who only shrugged when your dog dug up their pansies?

A picture of Santa is more than a decoration. It can bring the season into perspective. Parents can teach their children, and maybe remind themselves in the process, of seven important lessons Santa Claus represents:

1. The gift of giving. It is not so much how much you get but the fact that you go out of your way to give -- even squeezing down chimneys with sacks of goodies.

2. If you "do good", then eventually you will be rewarded for your efforts. If you are naughty, you can't hide it from Santa -- or anyone else for very long.

3. When in doubt, laugh. They say laughter is the best medicine and medical science has proved it to be so. We need to laugh several times a day to release vital hormones into the brain that ward off depression, and maybe even illness and stress.

4. Spread good cheer. Ol' St Nick spreads joy all over the world by being himself and giving to others.

5. Think less about yourself and more about others. Santa and the elves spend all year preparing gifts in the frozen North when they could be on some sunny beach sipping tropical drinks.

6. Expect miracles -- like reindeers that fly and one with a red nose to light the way.

7. Speaking of reindeers, Santa saw value in Rudolph even though he was different. That teaches us to find value in everyone we meet. Instead of making fun of the differences, let's help everyone see their uniqueness as a special gift.

Most of all, Santa reminds us to greet each other and say, "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night."

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