For more years than I can remember I’ve been a Secret Santa. As a Secret Santa I pick someone in need of a little holiday magic and do something special for them. The goal is to deliver the magic in a way that the recipient can’t confirm who did the deed. Then if I’m asked about it I deny, deny, deny. My Secret Santa identity must remain a secret or the magic vanishes. I’d give more details of some past deeds or gifts but then the secret would be out of Santa’s bag so to speak.
Last December my normal holiday cheer was tainted knowing it would be my dad’s last Christmas. However, Christmas was my mom’s favorite holiday so even when it feels blue I still celebrate because it helps me feel closer to her. In keeping with my Secret Santa tradition I was trying to decide who I’d bring a little ho, ho, ho too.
It wasn’t obvious that any of my friends needed a holiday happy infusion. Perhaps my own sadness impeded my observations. Then one day when I was picking up a gift card present at a fast food restaurant the cashier was a man with a disability. He had a huge smile on his face but his co-workers seemed to ignore him. It appeared he had a hard life.
Once I was back in my car a feeling overcame me – this man was meant to get my Secret Santa gift. But I had no idea what to do for him. I didn’t know what might surprise him or bring a little magic to his life. I decided to give him money. I went to the bank and got a little more cash than I’d normally give a stranger – enough that it hurt a bit but in a good way. I then put it in a card with a Santa on it that I signed Santa Claus. I went back to the restaurant wearing my chenille Santa hat, handed him the card, said Merry Christmas and quickly left before he could open it.
The surprised look in his eyes filled my heart with happy. I wasn’t sure if this man would buy himself or someone else something, or if it’d pay a bill. All I knew is that it would help him in whatever way he needed it too. And that was the magic of this gift – knowing it might help him and realizing I didn’t need to know how it would help. This was one of my favorite Secret Santa gifts.
I’m sure the Secret Santa recipients feel a little extra holiday magic but for me this annual tradition fills my soul with the spirit of Christmas too. It’s a double blessing.
[Tweet “Playing Secret Santa fills my soul with the spirit of Christmas. It’s a double blessing.”]
I’m challenging each of you to be a Secret Santa and invite your friends to join you. You can help someone, known or unknown, feel the magic of Christmas with a surprise deed or gift. And remember that the magic you feel expands by keeping your Secret Santa deed a secret.
I’d love to know if you plan to do something – but of course you can’t tell us what you did or the magic of the secret will disappear. So, leave a discrete comment below and share your happy 🙂
Written by Pamela Gail
Pamela Gail Johnson founded the Society of Happy People in 1998.
The Society is grounded on Pamela’s four key Practical Happiness Principles:
Pamela identified 31 Types of Happiness that are on the SOHP App Happiness Counter to make it easier to recognize moments of happiness.
Pamela also plans and organizes the Society of Happy People's annual happiness celebrations:
She's also a speaker, trainer, and author.
A few of her personal smile starters include her monthly book club, yoga, traveling and meeting new happy people.
Well, now you’ve given me an additional holiday mission – to find the perfect gift for the perfect recipient. Thanks!
A beautiful website and message!
The entire planet should join. Wish you the best in 2017. True Story for everyone. Had a friday lunch with 50 team members a few weeks ago. After surviving a shivery 20 min. walk to the pub we all chatted and enjoyed each others company. It was nearing Xmas so a solid chunk of funds was in hand to do some gift shopping afterwards. Well, 10 minutes into our walk back this young lady along the roadside was sitting and begging for change. No different then any other time but for some reason she caught my eye. Everything she set up around her was nicely placed and arranged. A simple old book with a marker was held in both her hands, her head was down. The clothes almost looked hand made. Almost as if they had been sewn over and over with patches.
Something just stopped me. Without thinking another thought in mid conversation with the group. This force had me walk over, lean in and hold her hands and say. ” you are loved”. Then placing a rolled wad in her hands.
She did not look at the funds. She did tear up. We stared deep for what seemed like minutes. I could see so much life in her. Whatever got her in that place can get her out. No judgement, just pure love for a stranger who could in a other life “be me or you”.
Cheers!
ps. What shocked me ” no xmas funds!” but it somehow all worked out for xmas!
Not sure if I misunderstood your message, but I am glad that you shared your story with us all. It is wonderful to know about your generosity and kindness, and I am sure that knowing this did not ruin any of the magic for me! I am hoping that the guy who received your gift is glad that you told us all about it too.
My husband and I have decided that we are going to buy surprise Christmas gifts for the five beloved grandchildren of my dear, dear friend. Her children are experiencing many tough life trials, and we believe this little gesture of love will, hopefully, give them reason to be hopeful for their futures and to know that others do care a lot about them.
What a beautiful idea. Every year I buy blankets for the homeless and hand them out to people on the corners. It meant a lot more to the people in upstate NY than where I am living now, Texas. But it still cools down here.
This Is Beautiful. Thank you for Sharing.
Thanks for sharing this happy.
Thanks for the invite to bring more happy to the world. 🙂
I have done small things in the past that fall into this category. But this year I did something for someone else that they should not be able to track back to me. These are dear friends who, as your past recipients, are struggling in a couple areas. The woman suggested I request help from a church thing, but instead of asking for me, I put a bug in someone’s ear to help this couple instead. I know they need the help and I also know they won’t ask for it. I pray this truly blesses them and if they guess it was me, I’ll take your suggestion and deny, deny, deny. Ho-Ho-Ho!
Beautiful post, thanks for sharing! This should inspire people to do acts of kindness year round, we don’t have to wait for Christmas to help people 🙂