There are only 16 days until Christmas and the countdown has got me thinking about the reason for the season. I mean, I get why the malls love Christmas, and the charities, and the churches too. Malls make money, charities make money, and churches get to talk about Jesus’ birth and make money! I’ve been trying to come up with my own reasoning. I believe in God, but that’s not what my Christmas focuses on. I buy people presents, and get some too, but my Christmas isn’t just about how loaded Santa’s sleigh happens to be this year. I like to do good deeds but sometimes the wallet looks a little bare when I walk past the donation tables.
I feel like a elf that’s lost it’s Christmas ooomph.
So this year, between studying and wrapping and writing and sleeping and baking, I decided to throw some good deeds into the mix. And then I thought about sharing some of the good deeds with you, in hopes that you might do some too. According to Wikipedia, “Pure altruism consists of giving something of value (a reward or benefit) with no expectation of any compensation or benefits, either direct, or indirect (for instance from recognition of the giving)“. So the fact that I’m blogging about doing something good for someone else already nulls the definition of altruism, which doesn’t make my good deeds very good after all. So I won’t tell you! But, you should definitely do something for someone else, because it feels good to know you’ve helped.
If you have no money to spend, go shopping with someone else and carry their bags, or volunteer in your area.
If you aren’t religious, go to church on Christmas eve to see the excitement in everyone’s eyes.
If you need a reason for the season, do a good deed!
b a r b i e d o l l x o 