Christmas may officially be over but that doesn’t mean the holiday spirit has to be packed away in the garage or attic with the tree, lights and all those festive decorations.

The holidays always seem to bring out the best in most people when it comes to how they treat others and in their support for charitable organizations and the community.

Simply put, Christmas makes most of us better human beings … at least for a little while.

It isn’t called a magical season for nothing. But who says it has to end when the calendar rolls over to a new year?

Instead of making short-lived New Year’s resolutions about losing weight, exercising more or giving up a bad habit, what would happen if we all made a commitment to hold on to just a little bit of that holiday spirit and spread it throughout the year?

Most resolutions are difficult to maintain because they are very self-centered and the impact doesn’t extend beyond yourself. Although these internal changes can be very rewarding, they cannot come close to the feeling that you get from simply being a better person and making a difference in people’s lives.

I’m going to try it this year. It won’t be easy but nothing truly worth it ever is.

Just as we do during the holidays, I hope to appreciate the magic of our world a little more all year and not take God’s small miracles for granted.

Hopefully I can help those in need more, have more patience with those around me and basically live by the Golden Rule that much of our society seems to have forgotten — Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

Since I am ditching those other resolutions I may be a little fatter and less healthy, but capturing some holiday magic in the middle of summer will be something worth celebrating all year long.

Happy New Year!

 

Michael Caldwell is the publisher of Leader Publications LLC. He can be reached at (269) 687-7700 or by email at mike.caldwell@leaderpub.com.