We all can make the world a better place with acts of kindness

CHRISTMAS is a time for shared joy and laughs, parties, food and drinks, where family, new babies and friends come together to celebrate the end of the year and to look forward with hope in our hearts to the year ahead.

Love and peace on Earth. Sometimes we can all be depressed and overwhelmed by the terrible news, feeling powerless to make positive change.

But we all can make the world a better place just by an act of kindness to another person, by so doing we create warmth in their hearts and ours.

When governments promote hatred and war against whole countries and peoples, turn your backs on them. Respect the diversity of cultural, racial and religious differences.

The mentally ill have suffered terribly during the pandemic. Psychiatrists say that the road to recovery is helped by regular contact with family and friends.

The lockdowns have made the mental health of the mentally ill much worse and created thousands of new mentally ill.

Just by dropping by someone who is lonely for a chat and cuppa lifts their hearts. There are also many befriending services looking for volunteers.

Hostility to refugees is promoted by those who should know better. Many are escaping war-torn countries. Refugees should be welcomed and helped.

We have a strong economy with good opportunities for all. Many UK businesses I use are run by former refugees who have built their livelihoods from scratch, now they add to the UK’S wealth and happiness.

Two DVDS I recommend for Christmas to give and watch are “Goodbye Christopher Robin”, a beautiful and poignant movie about the author AA Milne who wrote the Winnie the Pooh stories, who struggles for peace in the world, in his family and himself.

The second is Groundhog Day, a brilliant comedy that extolls decent human values of ordinary people.

Wishing peace on earth, seasons greetings and a happy new year to one and all. Blessed are the NHS.