This year my Countdown to Christmas is a nontraditional Advent Calendar centering (pun intended) on mindfulness.
On the front of each card is neat little picture, and on the back are the instructions for the short meditation.
Today, the 22nd Day of Advent … WATCH A CHRISTMAS FILM.
Here are today’s instructions:
The TV schedule is full of Christmassy films, heart-warming tales that explore the magic of Christmas and the human spirit. Your task is to choose a Christmas film to watch, but instead of letting the story pass by as a mere piece of entertainment, watch it mindfully.
Give the film your full attention. Put your phone out of reach and just become fully engrossed in the story; in its themes, images and performances.
Concentrate on the emotions you feel as the narrative progresses. Notice the sensations in your body. Does your body language change as you watch? Do you tense up at exciting moments? Do your eyes well up at sentimental moments? Make mental notes of the feelings you go through.
Pay close attention to the ways in which the film portrays the ‘magic of Christmas’. What exactly does it say to you about the spirit of the season? What techniques are used to give it its effect?
Watching in this way is an example of behaving mindfully at times when we are prone to switching off. By being fully present in the viewing experience, we can notice things that would otherwise pass us by.
NealEnJoy 
So far this holiday season: Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, How the Grinch stole Christmas. I may not have followed the instructions, but in my defense, I had not read them yet.
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