As part of a holiday reading challenge I visited the library and borrowed The Book of (Holiday) Awesome.  This was written by Canadian author, Neil Pasricha who I was privileged to meet in November at The Art of Leadership Conference.  To prepare for the holidays I had been looking for a holiday book that was inclusive of holidays other than just Christmas.  This book shares awesome thoughts Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa as well as other holidays throughout the year.  It helps to get you into the holiday spirit, keeps you smiling about your own awesome events and makes the reader think of their own awesome ideas!

Awesome ideas for those who celebrate Christmas:

• Getting a Christmas card from someone you lost touch with
• Having all the Christmas lights work when you plug them in (fingers crossed)
• Eating all the chocolates in the advent calendar at once (I am resisting this)
• When someone else shovels your sidewalk
• The smell of a fresh Christmas tree (looking forward to our fresh tree)

Awesome for those who celebrate Hanukkah:

• Having 7 more days of presents
• When your candy coins (gelt) melt perfectly in your mouth – not the wrapper

Awesome for those who celebrate Kwanzaa:

• Pasricha notes drinking from the same cup as your relatives as awesome (for those that know me to be a germaphobe I am shuddering at the thought of sharing so many germs with loved ones!)
• Knowing your holiday is worth the most points in scrabble (I will keep that in mind)

In the end whatever holiday  you celebrate, find some Awesome in the midst of shopping, cooking, wrapping, decorating and visiting.  I will be enjoy watching Christmas vacation and It’s a Wonderful Life for the zillionth time.  I will appreciate sitting by the fire with a book and will spend the month reading holiday books including some favourites like A Christmas Carol and The Greatest Gift along with some new holiday selections from the library.

Feel inspired for the holidays?  Join me in a Christmas reading challenge!