Here’s the answer to last post’s last riddle:
A ghoul and his bunny are soon parted

I hope you enjoyed my riddle gifts and that all of you who celebrate Hanukkah and Solstice have had lovely celebrations, and those of you celebrating Christmas and Kwanzaa have a wonderful holiday as well.

As I get older, I find myself full of mixed emotions around the holidays. There is such an expectation to be happy and fulfilled at this time of year, and yet we all know that plenty of people cannot participate in the hyped up gift-giving and celebration, especially during a recession, and this makes for disappointment, frustration, fear, and sadness, even if they may intellectually reject that very hype. This is part of the reason why I offered MOGO gift-giving tips earlier this month.

There are people laid off before the holidays, or who have just received a cancer diagnosis. And others whose marriages may have ended, or who have lost a loved one. The holidays are a stark reminder of what is gone. There are those without any place to go on the holidays, and those without homes at all.

This week is the darkest of the year in the northern hemisphere. It is not surprising that during this darkest time our society makes every effort to encourage celebration, generosity, and community. These stave off the dark emotions that can accompany the physical darkness. Singing, gathering, and candlelight bring us together and warm our spirits as well as our bodies. And at the very moment we celebrate in the darkness, the days are already getting longer, bringing light and hope even as we enter the coldest season.

So for those of us fortunate enough to be surrounded by love and who are safe, housed, well fed, and well clothed, my hope is that each of us will find a way to give of ourselves and ease some suffering, bring some joy, and kindle some light for those who may be struggling this holiday season.

Remember, as Philo of Alexandra said, “Be kind for everyone is fighting a great battle.”

Bring light,

Zoe Weil
Author of Most Good, Least Harm, Above All, Be Kind, and The Power and Promise of Humane Education

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Filed under: citizen activism, community service, compassion, MOGO (Most Good), positive choices Tagged: | citizen activism, compassion, consumerism, gifts, gratitude, holidays, Joy, Kindness, light, MOGO, positive choices, sadness, solstice, suffering