Be kind and compassionate

By Joshua Corcuera

Finally, dear reader, we are just a few days before celebrating Christmas once more. After a stressful year and economic hardships brought by soaring inflation, most of us can have a good time with our family, friends, and relatives and enjoy a good meal.

Be that as it may, there are some people who continue working on this special day—from health workers to security staff, there are some people who cannot enjoy Christmas with their loved ones. Furthermore, those living in poverty would be forced to celebrate the special holiday in the slums or in the streets with little food, if any. Not everyone is privileged enough to prepare noche buena. While others who may be privileged to do so cannot find time to be with those who are special to them.

With this in mind, the spirit of Christmas reminds us to be kind and to be compassionate, even to those who we barely know of, even to strangers who we never knew. After all, it costs nothing to be a kind and compassionate individual.

In our Christmas parties where we work or study, it is possible that there would be edible, delicious food left because we ordered too much. Instead of throwing the excess, we can give it to the poor, provided that the food remains safe for consumption and delicious. While others give extra food to other people regardless of who they are.

Based on my observations in Christmas parties, it is not uncommon for those with extra food to give it to employees—such as security guards and other staff. This simple act of kindness shows our concern for the well-being of others, and our desire that everyone will be healthy and full this holiday season.

To be candid, it is difficult to help other people all the time. As much as we want to help others on normal days, such as giving food to the poor, our dire economic circumstances prevent us from performing such acts of kindness and compassion. In the first place, helping others comes after helping ourselves.

But, let us strive and challenge ourselves to help others, at least this Christmas season and as we welcome a new year. Much better if we remember and enact the lessons of Christmas—to be kind and to be compassionate—even once the holidays are over.

As we celebrate the holidays, let us also strive to reconcile our differences with other people, especially our family and friends, and resolve issues that we encountered during the year. It was a divisive year to some people and, inevitably, there have been fights and quarrels among friends, among family members, and so on. This seems to be the perfect time to finally talk and address all issues during the year as we prepare to bid farewell to 2022.

Altogether, dear reader, let us strive to be kind and to be compassionate towards other people, whoever they may be, and to wish for the well-being of everyone, including ourselves. Everyone deserves to be joyful, hopeful, and have peace of mind this holiday season, at least.