Although holidays may be just specific days of the year when everyone collectively appreciates their loved ones, gives gifts and tries to better themselves &- a holiday can really be any day that you want it to be.

Holidays are magical &- the nicely decorated shopping centers and residential homes do help in setting the mood &- but so can regular days of any month in the year.

Thanksgiving Day is just another day in November, although not many days in the year are followed by frenzied masses descending upon the city’s shopping centers.

There is really nothing wrong with having a Thanksgiving dinner the week before, or after, the actual holiday.

Even though Thanksgiving has come and gone, the jolliness of this holiday should not simply pass when this month is over. Be outwardly thankful for everyone in your life, regardless of what day of the year it is.

They know you love them and appreciate them because of your actions toward them, but implied appreciation is not enough.

Choose a random day and tell them you are thankful for them, to their face or via Facebook wall post.

They might look at you strangely, but they will definitely appreciate it. We just don’t do things like this enough and we definitely should.

Aside from the positive mood this creates, it is a pleasant surprise when we don’t just do this on Thanksgiving Day. Think about how you would feel if someone told you they appreciated you, out of nowhere.

If you are someone who does not celebrate Christmas, don’t let it stop you from giving the people you care about gifts any time of year.

Small “thank you” cards, coffee from Starbucks, a gift card to Home Depot, driving your little cousin to the mall, doing the dishes after a family dinner &- all of these are great gifts to give. It does not have to be an “official” wrapped, decorated package with their name on it. These gifts are just as significant.

It is a nice tradition &- the opening of the presents on Christmas morning &- but sometimes foregoing tradition is the way to happiness. The surprise factor may be gone, but why should that matter?

Seeing someone’s reaction to what you say or do is worth every bit of it. The important part is that you gave for the sake of giving and were together with those who mean the most to you. And that is all that matters.

You might think it is too early for Christmas music to be blaring on the radio airwaves, but what’s so wrong with being in the Christmas spirit all year long?

Also, why wait until New Year’s Eve to make that resolution to lose weight or quit smoking? Why even wait until tomorrow to begin a new chapter in your life?

According to a study in the Journal of Clinical Psychology by John C. Nocross, 46 percent of the people who make New Year’s resolutions keep them after half a year has passed.

So, no, New Year’s Eve is not a magical solution to all of your problems. Starting a new year will not motivate you any more than starting a regular day with fresh resolutions.

The idea of starting a whole new year and a whole new life might keep you going down the right path for a while, but eventually that will run out of steam.

Make those resolutions anytime you want, even today. Try to be generous and merry at all times of the year. It will make the holidays feel that much better.

The editorial staff can be reached at [email protected].