It’s that time of year again – when we all have on our happy faces and kindness hats. This time of year it’s very, very easy to practice kindness, thoughtfulness and giving. On the kindness spectrum, the holiday season is a pure ten. It’s triple gold bars on a slot machine and a sundae with whipped cream and a cherry on top. It’s the ultimate do-good, do-right time of the year.
Then January rolls into February, we immerse into our post-vacation work frenzy and get back to our everyday habits and behaviors. The Salvation Army is not posted outside every supermarket or on multiple corners. Decorations are taken down and holiday triggers of kindness, generosity and thoughtfulness are not front and center as we go about our days. On the kindness spectrum, we are down to a one. This is the forgotten end of the spectrum – the one where there is no tinsel, noisemakers or banners to celebrate acts of kindness. We’ve moved on to other things like the Super Bowl and 60% off sales at department stores.
Charles Dickens wrote in A Christmas Carol, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” By the time the Ghost of Christmas Future was finished with poor Ebenezer Scrooge, he proclaimed this as his path forward. It’s true that the holidays change things. It’s also true that we have the power to affect change too, every day. Every act of kindness is like a mini-holiday – it helps people smile, feel hope, joy and love. As we march toward 2017, let’s all celebrate every day by giving the gift of kindness to each other and ourselves. I wish you a happy, healthy holiday season. Stay mindful. Be kindful.
