How To Take What Makes This Season Great And Apply It To The Rest Of The Year

Making Holiday Happiness Last

After weeks of preparation, menu planning, decorating and addressing greeting cards, just like that another holiday season has passed us by.

Although the tree ornaments may not be packed away, and the leftover food may not have disappeared quite yet, it's still possible to feel a bit of yearning for the holiday happiness you just experienced. It's no wonder we're sad to see the season go: Studies show that holidays full of family boost emotional wellness.

The good news is it's possible to make that exuberance and joy you feel during the season last throughout the year. Below, find six ways to make your holiday buzz carry into 2014 and beyond.

Be Festive

When was the last time you celebrated something, just because? Or had a festive gathering outside of the span of the season? Adopting a more festive attitude, and ritualizing more events than just the main holidays on the calendar, can actually help you cultivate more joy all year.

Celebrating good times and fun occasions can create a deeper sense of social connection and helps to build closer relationships. By being festive beyond the holiday season, you also open yourself up for more opportunities to log some time with your friends, which has been proven to help beat anxiety. Celebrating the little things -- no matter if it's an accolade at work or just because you're happy it's Friday night -- is also associated with overall gladness. So next time you need a little pick me up, schedule a little festivity (the ugly Christmas sweater is optional).

Send Greeting Cards And Thank You Notes

Another way to carry the holiday spirit through the rest of the year is to express thanks to and keep in touch with loved ones more often than your once-a-year Christmas card. It's no secret that gratitude is at its peak during the holidays, but practicing it all year -- even in small forms -- can have a significant impact on your on your emotional and physical wellness. Writing down what -- and more specifically, who -- you're thankful for can help you focus on the present and cultivate gratitude for all the good in your life, according to gratitude researcher Dr. Robert Emmons. The result? An increase in feelings of happiness and contentment.

In his book "365 Thank Yous," author John Kralik details how the simple act of writing one thank you note can have a positive impact on your psyche. After struggling with a series of challenges, Kralik made it his mission to take the time to write a thank you note at least once a day to someone -- and the results were life changing.

Writing a thank you note or a message just to check in doesn't have to follow a material gift. Just letting someone know you care will also affect your happiness levels -- but according to Kralik, make sure you say it in print. "Things we write in cyberspace are so easily deleted and forgotten ... buried by the next 30 e-mails we receive," Kralik told NPR in 2010. "In this day and age, a handwritten note is something that people really feel is special."

Spread A Little Generosity

Part of the joy that fills the season includes giving gifts to loved ones -- but that thoughtfulness and generosity doesn't have to come to an end once that last gift has been unwrapped.

Adopting a giving mentality all year round can make the jolliness of the season thrive -- along with your happiness levels. According to a recent study published in the International Journal of Happiness and Development, extending any bit of kindness or generosity to others can increase social connection and feelings of positivity for the donor.

The study examined how social giving affected emotional wellness, concluding that giving to worthy causes through friends and family made participants feel the happiest. "Our findings suggest that putting the social in pro-social [spending] is one way to transform good deeds into good feelings," the researchers wrote in the report.

Spend Time With Loved Ones

Surrounding ourselves with those who make us the happiest doesn't have to be a once-a-year treat. In fact, spending time with people rather than your holiday giftscan have a positive impact on our emotional well-being. According to a study conducted by the University of Missouri, happiness levels were greater when family events were more prominent during the season. Connection with friends and family also has a major reduction on stress, resulting in more pleasant, helpful and sociable attitudes.

Instead of the empty promise to get together as you head to your cars after the Christmas party, try making a regular date and sticking to it. A busy social calendar, along with some quality time with those who lift you up, can help transcend the holiday happiness into the spring, summer and beyond.

Let Yourself Indulge A Little

Admit it: You totally ate that second piece of pie even though you were already full -– and even more so, at the time, you didn't regret it. It turns out your desire to indulge isn't wrong; in fact, allowing yourself a little leniency more often can actually be good for you in the long run.

Research has shown that those who didn't deprive themselves when it came to cravings managed to stay on track with dieting a lot better than those who restricted themselves entirely -- and that holiday buffet is no exception. In other words, (mindfully) adopt that "cheating" attitude and grab a cookie at the next book club or treat yourself to that bowl of ice cream -- a little indulgence is going to help you more than hurt you, and will help your jolly spirit live on beyond the end of December.

Take Time Off

Perhaps one of the most thrilling parts of the holidays is the mental break and time away from our work responsibilities -- and rightfully so. A 2010 study published in the journal Applied Research in Quality of Life found that the anticipation of planning and taking a vacation resulted in higher overall happiness levels -- not a bad thing to have on your side when you're navigating your way through a hectic day at the office.

And that's not the only benefit of a little holiday. Studies have shown that taking a vacation can help stave off a heart attack, alleviate stress and help you be a healthier employee. So instead of just using the time alotted to you at the end of the year, take a little more time off for yourself during the other 11 months -- you'll be much jollier for it.

The Huffington Post  |  By Lindsay Holmes Posted: 12/23/2013 2:57 pm EST

‘HAPPY HOLIDAYS’ OR ‘MERRY CHRISTMAS’ — WHICH DO YOU PREFER?

The debate over saying “Happy Holidays” versus “Merry Christmas” is seemingly never ending.

While some prefer the former — along with its equally benign counterpart “Seasons Greetings” — others argue that the latter is more pertinent and pointed and that people should simply say it to avoid being so politically correct.

So where, statistically, does the nation fall on this issue? Well, it’s actually quite complicated and it depends on how the question is asked, but the latest poll on the subject might actually surprise those who are wedded to “Merry Christmas.”

The Public Religion Research Institute released new survey results today, which indicate that more Americans are actually more supportive of the benign and general “Happy Holidays” than the definitive “Merry Christmas” greeting.

According to the research, 49 percent of Americans believe that stores and businesses should use the more general phraseology to be respectful of peoples’ diverse faiths, whereas 43 percent disagree with this sentiment.

An additional eight percent did not know or refused to answer the question.

Respondents were asked, “Do you think stores and businesses should greet their customers with ‘Happy Holidays’ or ‘Seasons Greetings’ instead of ‘Merry Christmas’ out of respect for people of different faiths, or not.”

Credit: Public Opinion

Support for “happy holidays” is up five percentage points when compared to 2010, when 44 percent of respondents answered the same way. In that year, 49 percent expressed more support for the traditional “merry Christmas” greeting.

Past polls have found that changing the wording of the question has an impact on the results. The Pew Research Center explained this phenomenon last year when it asked for Americans’ preferences on the “Happy Holidays” vs. “Merry Christmas” debate:

When the question is presented as a choice between “Merry Christmas” and the less religious terms, 57% pick “Merry Christmas” and 27% select the less religious terms. (In this instance, even without “it doesn’t matter” presented as an option, 15% volunteer that they don’t have a preference.)

But when “it doesn’t matter” is added as an option, it draws roughly the same amount of support as “Merry Christmas”; 42% say they prefer “Merry Christmas,” 12% prefer the less religious terms and 46% say it doesn’t matter. There has been almost no change since 2005, when we asked the same question.

So, there you have it. It’s complicated. We thought we’d ask you where you stand on the issue as well, so take the poll, below:

Important Notice: Unauthorized Access To Payment Card Data In U.S. Stores

Top of Form

We wanted to make you aware of unauthorized access to Target payment card data. The unauthorized access may impact guests who made credit or debit card purchases in our U.S. stores from Nov. 27 to Dec. 15, 2013. Your trust is a top priority for Target, and we deeply regret the inconvenience this may cause. The privacy and protection of our guests’ information is a matter we take very seriously and we have worked swiftly to resolve the incident.

We began investigating the incident as soon as we learned of it. We have determined that the information involved in this incident included customer name, credit or debit card number, and the card’s expiration date and CVV (the three-digit security code).

We are partnering with a leading third-party forensics firm to conduct a thorough investigation of the incident and to examine additional measures we can take that would be designed to help prevent incidents of this kind in the future. Additionally, Target alerted authorities and financial institutions immediately after we discovered and confirmed the unauthorized access, and we are putting our full resources behind these efforts.

We recommend that you closely review the information provided in this letter for some steps that you may take to protect yourself against potential misuse of your credit and debit information. You should remain vigilant for incidents of fraud and identity theft by regularly reviewing your account statements and monitoring free credit reports. If you discover any suspicious or unusual activity on your accounts or suspect fraud, be sure to report it immediately to your financial institutions. In addition, you may contact the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) or law enforcement to report incidents of identity theft or to learn about steps you can take to protect yourself from identity theft. To learn more, you can go to the FTC’s Web site, at www.consumer.gov/idtheft, or call the FTC, at (877) IDTHEFT (438-4338) or write to Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Response Center, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580.

You may also periodically obtain credit reports from each nationwide credit reporting agency.  If you discover information on your credit report arising from a fraudulent transaction, you should request that the credit reporting agency delete that information from your credit report file. In addition, under federal law, you are entitled to one free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies. You may obtain a free copy of your credit report by going to www.AnnualCreditReport.com or by calling (877) 322-8228. You may contact the nationwide credit reporting agencies at:

Equifax	Experian	TransUnion
(800) 525-6285	(888) 397-3742	(800) 680-7289
P.O. Box 740241	P.O. Box 9532	Fraud Victim Assistance Division
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241	Allen, TX 75013	P.O. Box 6790
www.equifax.com	www.experian.com	Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
		www.transunion.com

In addition, you may obtain information from the FTC and the credit reporting agencies about fraud alerts and security freezes. You can add a fraud alert to your credit report file to help protect your credit information. A fraud alert can make it more difficult for someone to get credit in your name because it tells creditors to follow certain procedures to protect you, but it also may delay your ability to obtain credit. You may place a fraud alert in your file by calling just one of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies listed above. As soon as that agency processes your fraud alert, it will notify the other two agencies, which then must also place fraud alerts in your file. In addition, you can contact the nationwide credit reporting agencies regarding if and how you may place a security freeze on your credit report to prohibit a credit reporting agency from releasing information from your credit report without your prior written authorization.

Again, we want to stress that we regret any inconvenience or concern this incident may cause you. Be assured that we place a top priority on protecting the security of our guests’ of personal information. Please do not hesitate to contact us at 866-852-8680 or visit Target’s website if you have any questions or concerns.

IF YOU ARE AN IOWA RESIDENT: You may contact local law enforcement or the Iowa Attorney General’s Office to report suspected incidents of identity theft. You can contact the Iowa Attorney General at:

Office of the Attorney General

1305 E. Walnut Street

Des Moines, IA 50319

(515) 281-5164

http://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/

IF YOU ARE A MARYLAND RESIDENT: You may obtain information about avoiding identity theft from the FTC or the Maryland Attorney General’s Office. These offices can be reached at:

Federal Trade Commission	Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Response Center	Consumer Protection Division
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW	200 St. Paul Place
Washington, DC 20580	Baltimore, MD 21202
(877) IDTHEFT (438-4338)	(888) 743-0023
http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft/	www.oag.state.md.us

IF YOU ARE A NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENT: You may obtain information about preventing identity theft from the FTC or the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office. These offices can be reached at:

Federal Trade Commission	North Carolina Department of Justice
Consumer Response Center	Attorney General Roy Cooper
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW	9001 Mail Service Center
Washington, DC 20580	Raleigh, NC 27699-9001
(877) IDTHEFT (438-4338)	(877) 566-7226
www.consumer.gov/idtheft	http://www.ncdoj.com

IF YOU ARE A MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENT:  Under Massachusetts law, you have the right to obtain a police report in regard to this incident.  If you are the victim of identity theft, you also have the right to file a police report and obtain a copy of it.

Massachusetts law also allows consumers to place a security freeze on their credit reports. A security freeze prohibits a credit reporting agency from releasing any information from a consumer’s credit report without written authorization. However, please be aware that placing a security freeze on your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prevent the timely approval of any requests you make for new loans, mortgages, employment, housing or other services.

If you have been a victim of identity theft and you provide the credit reporting agency with a valid police report, it cannot charge you to place, lift or remove a security freeze. In all other cases, a credit reporting agency may charge you up to $5.00 each to place, temporarily lift, or permanently remove a security freeze. To place a security freeze on your credit report, you must send a written request to each of the three major consumer reporting agencies listed above.

In order to request a security freeze, you will need to provide the following information:

1.    Your full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);

2.    Social Security number;

3.    Date of birth;

4.    If you have moved in the past five (5) years, the addresses where you have lived over the prior five years;

5.    Proof of current address (e.g., a current utility bill or telephone bill);

6.    A legible photocopy of a government issued identification card (e.g., state driver’s license or ID card or military identification);

7.    If you are a victim of identity theft, a copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft;

8.    If you are not a victim of identity theft, payment by check, money order, or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover only). Do not send cash through the mail.

The credit reporting agencies have three (3) business days after receiving your request to place a security freeze on your credit report. The credit reporting agencies must also send written confirmation to you within five (5) business days and provide you with a unique personal identification number (PIN) or password, or both that can be used by you to authorize the removal or lifting of the security freeze.

To lift the security freeze in order to allow a specific entity or individual access to your credit report, you must call or send a written request to the credit reporting agencies by mail and include proper identification (name, address, and Social Security number) and the PIN number or password provided to you when you placed the security freeze, as well as the identities of those entities or individuals you would like to receive your credit report or the specific period of time you want the credit report available. The credit reporting agencies have three (3) business days after receiving your request to lift the security freeze for those identified entities or for the specified period of time

To remove the security freeze, you must send a written request to each of the three credit reporting agencies by mail and include proper identification (name, address, and Social Security number) and the PIN number or password provided to you when you placed the security freeze. The credit reporting agencies have three (3) business days after receiving your request to remove the security freeze.

FAQs

How do I know if this impacts me?

If you shopped at Target between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15, you should check your account for any suspicious or unusual activity. If you see something that appears fraudulent, REDcard holders should contact Target, others should contact their bank.

If I shopped at Target.com or in Canada should I be concerned?

No, this was an issue that impacted US stores.

Can I still use my card at Target?

Yes you can, if you used your card during the impacted periods, you should continue to monitor your accounts.

Has the issue been resolved?

Yes, Target moved swiftly to address this issue so guests can shop with confidence. We have identified and resolved the issue of unauthorized access to payment card data. The issue occurred between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15 and guests should continue to monitor their accounts.

How can I be assured you are taking the steps to protect my information in the future?

We continue to invest in our security practices to protect our guests’ information including the retention of a leading third party forensics firm to conduct a thorough investigation of this incident. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused our guests.