Spirit of Santa Claus

Whether you choose to call him Santa Claus, Pere Noel, Papai Noel, Viejo Pacuero (“Old Man Christmas”), Dun Che Lao Ren (“Christmas Old Man”), Kerstman, Joulupukki, Weihnachtsmann( Christmas Man”), Kanakaloka, Mikulas ( St. Nicholas), Babbo Natale, Hoteiosho (“A God or Priest who bears gifts”), Julenissen ( “Christmas gnome”), Swiety Mikolaj (“St. Nicholas”), Ded Moroz, (“Grandfather Frost”) Jultonten (“Chritsmas brownie”), Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or SinterKlass let us not forget the meaning behind Santa Claus. A meaning that is not just built around the religious significance of Christmas. A meaning that we should hold dearly in our hearts each day of the year. A meaning that demands that we strive toward or constantly reach for the better angels of our nature even when it seems impossible to do so. This season is representation of a spirit of goodness, kindness, compassion, and love that should exist within us all the whole year long. A spirit that demands we open our hearts to others without out any expectation from them, but as an example for them to follow. This is the season where the feet of doing the right thing hits the pavement knowing the right thing to do and the realization that the only thing you will get in return for your efforts is the good feeling you get in your heart for doing it. As I used to tell my bus students and now patients, “it is not hard doing the right thing. What is hard is knowing what the right thing is.” The right thing is that which demands the best from you in the worst of circumstances, that summons that better person inside you, that person you never realized you were capable of being, that person who realizes that doing the right thing routinely comes without awards, gifts, and sometimes without even a simple thank you, but does so just because of how it makes them feel inside.

Merry Christmas To All

Kim Morrison

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