What are you doing for someone else, at Christmas time? Not your family and friends, but the other folks amongst us?
Did you send a care package via anysoldier.com? Or toys to Iraqi/Afghani kids via Operation Give or Operation ShoeFly?
What about closer to home? Most grocery stores give you the opportunity to donate to the local foodbank at this time of year - did you? Or did you maybe donate via Angel Tree, or Toys for Tots?
Please take a moment, this holiday season, and remember those who have less than you do (even if you don't have very much, there are others with less). Remember those who are far from home at a special family time, and those who are working on Christmas day - airport workers, first responders, and such. Make time to do something for one of those folks, whether it's simply telling a first responder "thank you" for being a first responder, or taking some fresh-baked goodies over to the local firehouse or police station.
At a time of year when everyone is thinking about gifts for the letter-carrier, hair stylist, baby-sitter, etc., do you think about the less noticeable people in your life? How about a nice card or some fresh-baked goodies for the folks who dump your garbage or pick up your recycling? What about the people who do your landscaping? The office staff in your apartment complex?
And for that matter, why limit it to Christmas? Why not make it last all year? It's amazing what a smile and a "thank you" will do for folks. Or letting someone with less items go ahead of you in the checkout line. Some people like to pay extra at the toll booth, for the person behind them in line. It's a nice thought, for those who deal with toll booths.
Me? My original thought was to hand out chocolate candy at the airport today, while I was on my way home to spend Christmas with my family. But since Ohio is shrouded in snow and ice, with impassible roads, I've postponed my trip to New Year's.
What to do with the bags of chocolate I had already bought, then? Just what I had intended. I wandered the ticket/baggage section of the airport today, dispensing "Merry Christmas!" greetings and holiday-wrapped chocolate candies.
I think I'll go back tomorrow with fresh-baked cookies. And some cakes to the local police and fire departments.
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