Amy Newmark's Blog - Posts Tagged "gifts"

I love this time of year... the lights, the decorations, and the music... but most of all I love spending time with family and friends.

Getting into the holiday spirit makes everyone feel good!

The 101 inspiring stories of holiday love and wonder in our new book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, is sure to jumpstart your holiday spirit!

Here is a preview of two of my favorite stories that show how our writers experienced the joy and wonder of the holiday season:

Learn how to count your blessings.
In the story "Christmas Oranges" Erinn C was always a bit disappointed when she got to the bottom of her Christmas stocking and found an orange. After all, it was taking up room that could have been filled with more candy. But when she was thirteen, she learned that her grandfather had grown up poor and an orange was a coveted treat that he only got to have once a year. Erinn’s mother was honoring her father by including that orange for her children, even though they lived with such plenty. Erinn understands now and says, “Now the orange at the bottom of the stocking is a reminder to be grateful for the beautiful Christmases that my parents gave me and for the hard work they did that ensured I could have an orange any day of the year.”

Everyone is family during the holidays.
In her story "The Broken-Wing Party" Phyllis McKinley was surrounded by friends and family who didn’t feel like celebrating Christmas. They were having health issues or grieving a recent loss or were separated from their families. Phyllis bought a scrawny, crooked little tree and invited her friends to a “broken wing” Christmas party. All the guests had something wrong in their lives at the time, and they were welcome to come in whatever mood they wanted, no Christmas cheer required. Of course, everyone had a great time after all, saying it was the best Christmas Eve ever. Phyllis says, “Sometimes, when we are unable to fly, it helps to just perch together, leaning our broken wings against the warmth of another person.”

Happy Holidays!

Amy Newmark

There's something so magical about cats — their elegance, confidence, resilience, and independence are so often combined with affection, intuition, courage, and just plain smarts. They make every day an adventure!

Here are previews of two of my favorite stories from our new book Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Magic of Cats that show how cats added magic to the lives of our writers:

Cats remind you that rules are made to be broken.
In veterinarian Jan Rottenberg's story "Ben the Benevolent" she was about to close one night when a man brought in an abandoned, sickly kitten. He could only contribute $50 to the kitten’s care, but Jan took the poor little thing and nursed him back to good health, albeit with only one eye, over the next few months. She took him home every night but resolutely put him up for adoption when he was fully recovered. When someone offered to adopt him, Jan realized what her heart had known all along. She was going to break her very strict rule—you can’t keep a cat you’re fostering. Not only did that new cat blend in well with her other cats, but he also brought her paraplegic senior cat back to life, becoming her new friend. Since then, he has also welcomed two new rescue kittens. Jan says, “Ben not only earned his keep, but is also proof that every homeless kitten deserves a chance.”

When a cat chooses you, accept that the cat knows best.
In her story "Demands Attention" Morgan Rondinelli didn’t intent to adopt a pet but she found herself drawn to the local shelter every time she drove by. After several visits she was hooked by a dark gray cat with brilliant green eyes who walked over and plopped herself in Morgan’s lap. Jade chose Morgan and that was that. Even when Morgan thought she should keep looking, and tried to visit the cat room down the hall, Jade would have none of it, chirping at her argumentatively. Morgan hadn’t intended to adopt an eight-year-old cat either, but now she says, “I’ve heard it said that senior animals love deeper, and I think that’s true. I know from Jade’s cheek rubs and kneading my legs that she seems extra grateful to have been adopted.” Morgan also appreciates the lack of kitten energy, so they can spend “weekends lounging and napping together, with the right amount of occasional play.”


Amy Newmark

It's National Dog Week! What a perfect time to talk about dogs and how so many of them love to have a purpose. When they can’t do their jobs they get antsy, and their humans need to find them something new to do, a new way to contribute.

Below is a preview of one of my favorite stories from our book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Magic of Dogs, about a dog who was so committed to doing good that his human had to make sure she could keep going to work every day!

In Tracy Beckerman's story "On the Job" Tracy has to find something for her dog Monty to do during the pandemic. Monty, despite some early bad behavior during his puppy and teenage years, had become a therapy dog after Tracy had gone through the very difficult process of training him, which meant acting like the alpha dog and meaning it. But it worked and Monty loved being a therapy dog. His favorite thing in the world was to have his belly scratched, and there were many people willing to do that for him all day. Tracy says, “We visited children battling cancer, seniors with dementia, and even worked the airports when flights were delayed or canceled, and passengers needed a way to blow off some steam. On the job, he was the center of attention.”

Monty loved going to work. But then the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and Monty the Therapy Dog had nowhere to go. No job, no morning walks with his dog friends, no chasing a ball in the local dog park. Tracy says, “Soon, I got the feeling that he was more depressed about the isolation than my husband and I were, and I realized I needed to do something to stimulate him or risk the chance that he would start snacking on our underwear again.”

Tracy asked her husband if he would pretend to need therapy. He reluctantly agreed and Tracy put her plan into action. She put Monty in his official vest and bandanna and clipped his badge to his collar. Then she put on her official sweatshirt and badge and slung her therapy backpack, which held the dog’s certification papers and some dog biscuits, over her shoulder. Monty perked up and struck his therapy-dog stance.

She took him outside, closed the door, and knocked on it. The dog sat next to her and waited patiently.

“Hello,” she shouted as she opened the door and stepped in. “We’re here for your therapy visit.”

“Up here,” yelled her husband from the top of the stairs.

Tracy said, “Monty, therapy,” and they walked up the stairs. Tracy’s husband lay on the floor pretending to be in pain. Monty lay down next to him and rested his chin on her husband’s leg.

“Good job, Monty!” she said. “And good job to you, too, honey. You really look like you’re in pain!”

“I really am in pain,” her husband said as he massaged his leg. “I tripped over the dog’s toy and slammed my shin into the coffee table.”

“Well, you did it for a good cause,” Tracy replied. “See how happy he is.”


Amy Newmark

I know it seems early to be talking about Christmas but with the way things are these days I feel like we all need as much holiday cheer as possible! And with Thanksgiving just around the corner, the shift into high gear for Hanukkah and Christmas is not far behind.

The 101 inspiring stories in our new book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Is in the Air, is sure to kickstart your holiday spirit!

Here is a preview of two of my favorite stories about the joys of the holiday season:

It helps to remind yourself why you’re doing all this work.
In the story "Doing Dishes" Melody Groves surveyed the pile of dirty dishes filling her sink and counters after a holiday event, all left for her to wash by herself. Her busy children and grandchildren had already gone back to their homes. But as she grumbled and worked she started to think about how each glass and plate was used: the football-shaped glass that her eight-year-old grandson loved, the spoon her eleven-month-old grandchild had used for applesauce, the remnants of the chicken her husband had so carefully and proudly cooked just right. Before she knew it, the dishes were done and Melody had reviewed a lot of happy memories. In the course of emptying the sink she had realized how full her life really was.

If you see a need, fill it.
In her story "Around the Tree" Crescent LoMonaco heard that one of her brother’s friends couldn’t afford a Christmas tree, and she was horrified. The newly divorced mother of three was already facing a slim Christmas. Crescent’s first instinct was to get that struggling mom a tree. She followed that impulse and went shopping for the perfect tree, complete with a stand, decorations, lights, and even an extension cord. She and her husband dropped off the tree anonymously in the family’s driveway. Later that day, her brother called to say that his friend had told him she had a Secret Santa who had provided a tree for them. She was so happy and appreciative, and said it really felt like Christmas. Crescent says, “Thinking back, it wasn’t about the tree. What I loved about the tree and what I wanted so much for that family was the family time. The tree was just the backdrop.” And she’s right; whether you’re gathering around the perfect cut tree, artificial tree, or decorated avocado tree, it’s the gathering that matters. The tree is just an excuse for the good stuff.


Amy Newmark

Growing up can be tough for preteens... especially these days. As parents, you want to support them... offer advice. But often times that is met with an eye roll or a shut door. Now what?

I am really excited to share the stories in our new book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Positive for Preteens. Stories about situations your preteen may be experiencing but with advice and encouragement from kids their own age!

Here are previews of two of my favorite stories with tips for your preteen on doing the right thing and being grateful:

Make true friends to be truly popular.
In her story "The Real Popular Table" Victoria Fedden used to watch the “popular girls” across the middle school cafeteria and wish she could get a seat at their table. But then she walked by them one day and they made fun of her. Victoria sat down with her own friends and had an epiphany: “Why would I even want to be friends with people who were so mean?” She looked around and spotted a boy sitting by himself and impulsively asked him to come and sit with her and her friends.

Victoria says, “From then on, we made a point to invite everyone the popular girls made fun of to eat at our lunch table.” Eventually, Victoria’s table was even a refuge for girls who’d been kicked out of the popular group. She says, “When I looked at my group of friends, which seemed to grow every day, I understood where the true ‘popular table’ was in our middle school cafeteria and knew that I had gotten my wish after all.”

Learn to count your blessings.
In Suzanne De Vita's story "Learning to Love My Messy Life" she envied her friend Michelle, who lived in a large, tidy, quiet house. She admired her huge bedroom, her toys, and her nanny and housekeeper. She failed to notice that Michelle’s parents were rarely home, or that Michelle was lonely when Suzanne wasn’t there.

It was only when Michelle came to visit Suzanne’s messy, chaotic house, overflowing with her five siblings and her parents, that Suzanne noticed how much fun her own home was. Michelle was soaking it in, laughing with the family during dinner and enjoying every moment. She told Suzanne, “You’re so lucky you have such a big family.” Suzanne concludes her story by saying, “Suddenly, my house—my crowded, messy, loud house—seemed like paradise.”


Amy Newmark

Staring at the calendar I find it hard to believe that Christmas is just days away. I still have so much to do!

This time of year it's easy to get caught up in checking items off our to-do list... we forget to slow down and actually enjoy the holidays.

It reminds me of one of my favorite stories from our new book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Is in the Air :

In her story, Caroling My Cart Out, Melissa Cutrera was rushing through her errands with her young children in tow, two in the shopping cart and one trying to keep up at her side. As they raced down the aisles, she flung things into the cart and told them not to touch anything. She was stressed and not exactly feeling any holiday joy.

But then her five-year-old daughter started singing Christmas carols, and her seven-year-old chimed in. They were singing loudly, and Melissa was worried about what people would think of this chaotic scene.

It turned out the shoppers around them loved it. They were smiling and singing along. By the time they checked out and were making their way through the parking lot, Melissa was singing, too. She had found her Christmas spirit.

Happy Holidays!


Amy Newmark

For the past 14 years I have been editor-in-chief and publisher of Chicken Soup for the Soul. During that time I've had the pleasure of reading tens of thousands of stories from people all over the world.

Of the thousands of stories, some of my favorites are those that focus on happiness — how to find it and how to keep it. Not only did I develop an understanding of what makes people tick... I learned what makes them happy!

So when we decided on our new book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Your 10 Keys to Happiness, I knew immediately it would be a passion project for me.

I began the book with a chapter on counting your blessings because I think that’s the most important key to happiness. I’m not sure you can truly be happy if you aren’t aware of what’s good in your life—if you’re always focused on what you lack instead of what you have.

Here's a preview of one of my favorite stories from the book about how to count your blessings to make every day a good day:

It’s amazing how powerful the active practice of gratitude can be for focusing us on what’s good in our lives. In Joan Donnelly-Emery's story, "Worst Day Ever," Joan learned this when she was diagnosed with lymphoma the same day her husband lost his job. Her husband had the right attitude, though. He said, “Someday in the future, we’re going to write about today and we’ll call it Worst Day Ever.”

They both went right to work solving their problems. Alan would eventually find a new, even better job, and Joan would successfully navigate her cancer treatment.

As the one-year anniversary of their Worst Day Ever approached, Joan and Alan decided they should commemorate the day – with a fun trip to Las Vegas. They have continued to celebrate March 19th every year since then, with trips to Savannah, Destin, and even Dublin, Ireland on the ten-year anniversary! Joan says, “Each year, we raise a glass and toast that awful day and all the days since, which we survived solely because of a bounty of blessings.”

Joan says the greatest blessing of all is that celebrating the Worst Day Ever has stripped away all the trivial stuff and shone a bright spotlight on all the important things, like faith, family, perseverance, love, and health. She said they don’t take any of those things for granted and they feel blessed to have them in abundance.



Amy Newmark

Christmas is truly a magical time... I love all the holiday decorations around the neighborhood and of course, I love putting up the Christmas tree. The lights, the ornaments, the piney aroma... it truly makes this time of year so special. It's one of the reasons why Chapter 2 from our new book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Magic of Christmas, celebrates Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes... and the inspiration behind each of them!

One of my favorite stories from the book is written by Michele Sprague. In the story "Ragged, Forlorn... It's Perfect" Michele tells us that it was months past Christmas, and she still hadn’t taken down her little eighteen-inch Charlie Brown Christmas tree on the mantel. It was sparse, misshapen, and it only had one ornament. Her daughter pointed out that it hadn’t looked good at Christmas, and it still didn’t look good.

But Michele found special meaning in that little tree. She had found it her first Christmas after her divorce, hidden in a corner of the store among some toys. The next year, when she was more back on her feet, that sad little tree was back on the mantel, but a beautiful six-foot Christmas tree stood beside it, nicely decorated with ornaments made by Michele’s daughters.

And her daughter was still telling her the little Charlie Brown tree needed some help—some lights, more decorations… Nevertheless, both trees went up every year.

Ten years later, Michele remarried and continued the tradition of putting up both trees. Her new husband, Larry, suggested they leave the Charlie Brown tree up all year, complete with its one ornament. “It’s simple and reminds us of what’s important,” he said. “Life doesn’t have to be filled with glitz and glamour for us to be happy. This simple, little Charlie Brown tree reminds us to enjoy the little things, which are often beautiful.”

Happy Holidays!
Amy Newmark

As you know from previous blogs, I love this time of year! Sharing the love and wonder of the holidays with family and friends is what Christmas is all about for me.

It's also a great time for our Chicken Soup for the Soul team... they started choosing stories for this year's Christmas book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Time for Christmas in early summer, and are especially thrilled that it's finally time for Christmas!

We can't wait to share these heartwarming and inspirational Christmas stories. They'll leave you glowing in the Christmas spirit!

Here's a sneak peek of one of our favorite stories... spoiler alert, there is a Christmas miracle!

In her story, "Gramma's Gift," Jamie Cahill talks about her grandmother, who loved Christmas and shared many traditions with her grandchildren and then her great-grandchildren, Jamie’s three kids. The kids would snuggle in their great-grandmother’s lap as she read them the same Christmas stories she had read to Jamie.

Then, Jamie’s grandmother had a stroke at age ninety-seven. Jamie and her oldest child drove from Connecticut to Pennsylvania to see her and say their goodbyes. During the drive they talked about life and death, and Jamie shared some of the Chicken Soup for the Soul stories that she’d read from people who believe that our spirits carry on and are still present after death.

Although Gramma couldn’t speak, Jamie’s daughter Lucie talked to her and said, “Send us a sign when you’re gone, Gramma, a sign that you’re with us.”
Jamie says, “Months went by, and one day Lucie asked me if I’d seen any signs from Gramma. No, I hadn’t seen any signs. I wondered if I should have told her those angel stories and created those expectations. Now she was waiting for a sign, in the literal way that a teenager would.”

Ten months after Gramma died, the next Christmas season arrived. It felt different without Gramma there. But Jamie still had a good time and on Christmas Eve, she hosted 30 people for dinner. Christmas morning, she was exhausted. After all the gifts were unwrapped, her husband took the kids to his parents nearby to see their cousins and open more gifts. Jamie took a quiet walk and thought about her missing grandmother, and then brought in the mail from the day before.

The top piece of mail on a big stack of cards was an envelope addressed in her grandmother’s distinctive script. Jamie ripped open the card. She says, “It was Gramma’s hand-painted Christmas card, a lovely watercolor she did every year:

Dearest Jamie, Tom, Lucie, Emmett and Clara,
To all 5 of you—
What a precious family! It will be so nice to see you on Christmas. Save a few hugs for me.
Love you,
Gramma

It was her grandmother’s Christmas card from the prior year that had never gotten to them. It had a postmark from a year earlier but Jamie’s grandmother had made a slight mistake in the address. Somehow, it arrived on Christmas Eve a year later, ten months after Gramma’s death, right when Jamie and her family really needed a little Christmas miracle—a holiday hello from Gramma!


Warm wishes for a happy holiday season!


Amy Newmark