What even is a miracle? Dictionary.com defines it as "an extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause." -- It's magic.

1. What is magic?It's a gift for creation, for making something happen that others cannot. What comes easily to someone but looks impossible to someone else -- isn't that magic? So much more fits into this definition than we initially imagine. As I told my son recently, his ability at age eleven to write a song on his guitar, to just create it out of nothing looks to me like magic. It doesn't feel like magic to him. It's just there for him. To a wizard, magic isn't some special new thing, it's something that's just there. To some people, the idea of writing a complete novel seems like magic. It doesn't seem magical to me because I know I can do it. What is your magic? That thing you take for granted that others would find special... maybe it's the way you listen to your friends or the way you bake chocolate chip cookies or your soothing hugs. Learning to appreciate the miracles we create leads to more miracles in our lives.

2. Acts of kindness are miracles too, even little things. I recently found out that an old friend from high school had "a thing" for someone famous who happens to be an acquaintance of my husband. I asked my husband to request a signed photo of the famous person for my high school friend, thinking it was just a little thing that might brighten her day. The famous person insisted on sending my high school friend a signed book. He took care of the mailing expense, too. This little surprise made my old high school friend extremely happy, felt to her like a little miracle. Isn't it amazing how easy it can be to set something in motion to make someone happy?

3. What about holiday gifts? Can't they be miracles? I'm sure if you went out and bought every person on your list an iPad or something it would feel miraculous to them, but most of us can't afford to do that. That's when we have to look for the little miracles. But don't you sometimes feel like a lot of the gifts we give are just junk? What gift could you give that might feel miraculous? To me, the miracle of gift giving is knowing the person to whom you're giving a gift, seeing some part of them that maybe gets overlooked by others. Maybe they love to cook, but never take the time to go beyond weeknight dinners. A cooking class might be exciting for them. Or maybe you have a friend who likes poetry but doesn't think they're much of a poet. A book of poems and a journal for their own might feel a little like magic to them. Lighting a fire under anyone's secret desire is always a miracle.

4. At holiday time, most of us try to reach out in other ways, too -- providing toys or meals or warm coats to families who can't afford them. When we reach out in small ways, taking the time to create that sense of "special" for people in our community, we feel like miracle makers. It's the time of year when we actually get the whole 'giving is receiving' thing. Granted, we don't always have time or resources throughout the year to be miracle-bringers. But the secret is -- it's the little things that matter the most. I'm challenging myself to seek out little miracles all year long.

5. And finally, there are miracles around us every day in every aspect of our lives that we just forget to notice because we've gotten used to them being around. Sadly, it often takes someone else's bad news to remind us of all that we have to appreciate. And truly, the list is endless -- our families, friends, communities, our homes, heating, food, our online connections, our gadgets, our clothes, our work, our play, our fun, and so on until forever. It's not cliche to feel grateful for the everyday things -- the warm blankets on our bed, the comfy pillows, our ipods or TVs, time to watch a movie with someone you love. And I heartily believe that every one of these gifts is a miracle and every miracle we appreciate breeds another miracle.

Wishing you a holiday season and a year filled with gratitude and miracles!