Help others

From A Christmas Carol:

“It is required of every man, “that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellowmen, and travel far and wide; and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death. It is doomed to wander through the world — oh, woe is me! — and witness what it cannot share, but might have shared on earth, and turned to happiness!”

 The message is simple- give back and help others-

The force of that fictional lament is born out in our own experiences. Research suggests that giving to others, when a matter of choice and not compulsion, makes us happy — often, happier than when we spend on ourselves. When we alleviate others’ pain, we feel a special pleasure. The things we remember and savor most in life include the times we helped others.

There are countless others who know the great happiness that poor Jacob Marley cannot share. Christmas Day — which for Christians symbolizes the birth of hope and love in the face of darkness and cruelty, much as Scrooge was inspired by his night of ghostly visits to make a fresh start and live fully — seems a good time to ponder that.

Merry Christmas!