Vermont Christmas Wishes

Dear Santa,

I would rather hear Jingle bells from Santa's reindeer-powered sleigh than honking horns from automobiles, but since Santa only drives by once a year let his snow or mush or icy path be clear and free of litter.

I'd rather bike and walk to local stores for groceries and takeout food as well as holiday gifts, but if flooded or iced or snow bound sidewalks deter me at least let my drive be along tree lined streets.

I would rather not have to pay taxes to eradicate litter. Thankfully, a score of people volunteer to pick up litter on Green Up Day and some pick up a piece every day. I ask that each of these folks may receive overflowing Christmas stockings.

I would rather most Christmas gifts be acts of kindness: a friendly visit, a helping hand, even a phone call to someone in despair or to someone who is ill. Janis Joplin once sang that we all want the same thing: Someone to listen to you, talk to you, hear you, want you, need you, hold you.

Let any material gifts consist of locally grown, crafted, designed, built and sold. Let them be minimally packaged and built with quality to last a long time before expiring and entering our landfill.

I would rather there were neither homeless nor hungry people in our community, nor lonely or depressed people in unattended need. I wish for us all to not be shy about saying a sincere “Thank You”, and “Can I help you with that?”, while extending a warm handshake or hug in seasonal and neighborly greetings to acquaintances and strangers alike.

I would rather we could slow the clock to find more time to actively participate in local government, and keep abreast of community activities. At least let us recognize the 'power of one' to influence good behavior, shared responsibility, and to spread a 'one for all and all for one' camaraderie.

Santa, I wish for community organizations, businesses, neighborhood groups, and individuals to take up Green & Clean activism by promoting and  planting more green (native trees, shrubs, flowers) along our streets and parks and in our backyards. In addition, I wish for a Fall Litter Harvest Day to complement our spring Green Up Day.

Finally, Santa, I wish all Vermont cities and towns be filled with caring and responsible members.  Where the only lonely person is the one who hears a neighbor knocking at the door - a start to a new trusting relationship. Each town uniquely building on its sense of place. Communities where the only paper on the streets is white birch bark.Where the only clean up required on Green Up Day consists of raking leaves and preparing flowerbeds. Where litter is so rare, so unthinkable, so distasteful that even squirrels no longer leave their nut shells behind after feasting.

I would rather Christmas spirit shine from each of us all year long. I would rather the streets be Green & Clean all year long. With our help Santa, I think my wishes can come true, Merry Christmas!







Does Santa Make Us Selfish?
Could the way we frame Christmas make us naughty or nice?  Watch this short video from the Behavioral Science Guys, David Maxfield and Joseph Grenny, New York Times bestselling authors and part-time Santa's helpers. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywWUDgHdoSk


NEW DREAMS PRINTABLE COUPON BOOK (Free) Meaningful gift ideas.



Vermont Christmas Wishes first pubished on December 2009

Photo credits: Mailing Letters from Smithsonian Institution ,  Center of town. Woodstock,...from The Library of Congress, THIS DAIRY FARMER NEAR RANDOLPH...from The U.S. National Archives
Every February on Brookfield...from The U.S. National Archives

Other holiday postings:

      Ø  MLK Day of Service: http://litterwithastorytotell.blogspot.com/2013/01/martin-luther-king-jr-day-of-service_19.html

Ø  Halloween Bike Ride: http://litterwithastorytotell.blogspot.com/2012/10/halloween-bike-ride-burlington-vermont.html

Ø  Easter: http://litterwithastorytotell.blogspot.com/2012/04/happy-easter.html

Ø  Celebrate New Year with Action: http://litterwithastorytotell.blogspot.com/2012/01/let-us-celebrate-2012-with-actions.html

Ø  Halloween Menu: http://litterwithastorytotell.blogspot.com/2010/10/halloween-menu.html

Ø  Ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day: http://litterwithastorytotell.blogspot.com/2010/06/green-and-clean-ways-to-celebrate.html

Ø  Mother’s Day-Terra Firma: http://litterwithastorytotell.blogspot.com/2010/06/terra-firma-may-2010.html

Ø  Going for a walk with Dad: http://litterwithastorytotell.blogspot.com/2012/06/going-for-walk-with-dad.html

Ø  Father’s Day: http://litterwithastorytotell.blogspot.com/2011/06/fathers-day-gift-to-his-son.html

Ø  Valentine’s Day: http://litterwithastorytotell.blogspot.com/2012/02/happy-valentines-day.html

Ø  National Pancake Day: http://litterwithastorytotell.blogspot.com/2012/02/national-pancake-day.html

Ø  Mardi Gras: http://litterwithastorytotell.blogspot.com/2012/03/mardis-gras-in-vermont.html

Ø  March Madness: http://litterwithastorytotell.blogspot.com/2012/03/everyone-can-play-this-all-season-sport.html