The most wonderful time of the year

Many people look forward to this joyful Christmas season. They thoroughly enjoy the beautiful lights; the inspiring music played in homes and malls; home decorations displayed by people of goodwill; and the special smells of delectable food treats shared only at this time of year.

People enjoy watching others choose presents with care and take pleasure in the smiles on their faces when their search for the perfect meaningful gift culminates in success.

The joy increases daily as Christmas Day draws nearer. People’s public attitudes change. This is evidenced by strangers wishing others Merry Christmas in public places; people holding doors for one another going in and out of stores; and individuals happily giving up parking places for others in crowed parking areas. People feel good about themselves and share these feelings with others in simple yet meaningful ways.

People can enhance their good feelings during this intermission from the normal everyday activities of life by acting as secret Santas. Secret Santas perform acts of kindness anonymously. The few examples of kindheartedness performed in secret that follow pale in comparison to what actually takes place. Some people act as secret Santas every day, not just at this time of year.

A secret Santa might pick up a piece of litter so a worker does not have to bend over to do so. Some anonymous elf may pay the person’s toll behind him or her at a toll booth. Other Santas leave bags of empty returnable bottles in bottle return areas at stores to surprise lucky patrons. Another secret Santa may drop change in a parking lot for children to find. One secret Santa might drop a dollar bill in the open hoodie of someone standing in front of her or him in line at a checkout.

Readers can add countless unselfish acts to these few ideas. Many will find that it is great fun to be secret Santas and makes them feel good about themselves. This may encourage them to entice their friends to be secret Santas as well. These small acts of sharing joy are endless.

— C. Kevin Synnott Assistant professor, Eastern Connecticut State University Hampton