OnTheSoapbox: 'Tis The Season For Giving

According to some mental health experts (based on what I've read), holiday seasons such as Christmas and the New Year, while festive and joyous, may also bring out the darkest in some people.

That's because the apparent cheer seen all around contrasts starkly with what some people feel inside. And this explains why suicide rates tend to rise around the holidays. Sad, isn't it?

Anyways, a terribly sad incident in the past few days got me thinking ... while some of us (ok, me) are rushing about, trying to get the Christmas shopping done, maybe one of the most precious presents we can give doesn't even need bows and giftwrap -- the gift of our time, a smile, our concern or just plain common decency towards a fellow human being.

PS. Friends and family: I still have be-ribboned prezzies for you :) Just working though what Christmas means to me too.