When the temperature drops and snow starts to fall, what is it good for? Playing, of course! Snowmen, snow angels, sledding, snowball fights—nothing quite brings out the playfulness of children—and perhaps some adults—like snow. Even Herby has gotten caught up in the fun.

Not only is playing fun, but it helps us in many ways. Playing can be good for our emotions, our minds, or bodies, our spirits and our relationships with other people. What are we missing out on when we don’t take time to just have fun? What fun things do you like to do?

When the opportunity hits—say, in the form of a wintery, white wonderland of whimsy—take time out and go play! But be sure to dress warmly, don’t stay outside in the snow for too long, and avoid becoming a snowman yourself.

Who doesn’t want a friend? Someone to talk to, who understands you, who you have fun with and share the ups and downs of life with. There are billions of people on Earth, so why are good friends so hard to come by? Perhaps it would be easier if like Herby we advertised our longing for friendship to passer-bys.

Although sometimes we may enjoy being alone, there come times in our lives when we all need other people to come alongside us. Is there anyone you know or see around you that may be looking for a friend? How could you possibly be that friend they are looking for?

Take an interest in the people around you. Not everyone may be friendly toward you, but for those that are, invite them into your world. You, too, can be someone’s “super-cool friend.”

Do you know what you are feeding your body? Our bodies are miraculous machines, performing countless incredible cellular functions each day that we don’t have to even think about. Breathing, thinking, seeing, hearing, moving, circulating blood, repairing itself, fighting infections… the amazing things your body does goes on and on. Our bodies need the right fuel in the right amounts to grow and stay healthy. If we don’t give them the right nutrients they need, they can become tired, obese, sick with disease, or worse. It matters what we eat!

Unfortunately, many people don’t give their body enough of what it actually needs and instead feed it too much “junk food,” but you don’t have to settle for “junk.” It may be hard to change what you eat if you’re not used to eating the right things. You might not like to eat broccoli. But broccoli helps your body to prevent disease and even cancer. So which is better? Besides, the more you eat something, the more you can actually come to like it.

Try to eat a lot of natural foods such as whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruits, beans, seeds, and nuts in addition to lean meats, dairy, and healthy fats. And be sure to drink plenty of water, too. You control what you put in your mouth. Make it good—your body will thank you!

Sometimes things don’t go the way we want them to. Imagine you are going to be in a parade. You have been looking forward to it for weeks. There will be a lot of fantastic floats, musical marching bands, and plenty of people lining the street waving, smiling, and cheering for you as you pass by. Everyone is hoping for a beautiful, sunny day. But as the parade is beginning to start, the sky clouds over and turns a gloomy grey. Suddenly, you feel a wet drop hit your face. Then another. And another! You see the rain falling all around you. And then it pours. And before you know it, you’re soaking wet! “The parade and this day are ruined!” you might think.

But maybe not. What if you had thought it might rain, so you brought an umbrella along just in case. What if even though it rained, you were ready for it? Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad after all.

You may not be able to control the weather and keep it from raining in your life, but you can control your attitude and what you do about it—even when things don’t turn out the way you would like. So, be ready for anything and make the most of whatever comes your way.

Christmas is truly a magical time of year. Our surroundings are transformed into an enchanted wonderland of twinkling lights, lush pine, and sparkling ornaments. A glorious assortment of beautifully-wrapped packages await us under the Christmas tree. Delicious cookies, candies and other treats reserved especially for this time of year are ours to savor. And ethereal melodies that have grown so dear to all of us over many Christmases fill the air, proclaiming tidings of comfort and joy.

Christmas is a wonderful time of celebration for many people. While there is a lot of trouble and tragedy in life and in our world, all of this seems to melt away with the shining light of Christmastime. No matter what trouble we may face, Christmas always seems to hold the promise of hope, joy, and good will. There is something about Christmas that just makes people feel better.

Just as the celebration of Christmas warms our souls in the middle of the cold winter, the promise of Christmas warms our hearts in the midst of a troubled world. Rejoice and celebrate the gift of Christmas!