With the eve of the holidays upon us there are no photography tips or tutorials today.  My only message is to enjoy the time with family and friends, in whatever way you celebrate and to urge you to remember to give back if you are one of the fortunate ones.

May peace and joy be with you

Around the world, and across the many cultures, there are also many ways to express wishes of the season.  But the one uniting thing is LOVE.  This is a time to share the love, and spread it, not through gift giving but through giving of spirit and understanding.

May the true spirit of giving shine through

For many years now I’ve had issues with the commercialism of modern day Christmas in my part of the world.  Money is spent, gifts are given, and often to people you only see once a year.  Yet others go without food and shelter in my very own city.  I vowed not to be a part of the problem, but to be part of the solution.  So, every year all of my family members get a card from me that says I’ve given a donation to the Bissell Centre in their name.  They are a great organization, with which I’m also proud to be a 20+ year volunteer.  On January 1st, 2013 I will be celebrating the new year, as I do every year, by helping them feed over 1000 hungry folks, many of them homeless.

To me it puts the year into perspective, especially after that which is the frenzy of gift giving Christmas has become.  It helps remind me how much I have, and that there are so many that have so little, and yet they are happy.  I always come away from that event feeling uplifted and grateful.   Grateful not only for what I have, but also that I am in a position to give back.

“I am only one, but I am one. I can’t do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I can do. And by the grace of God, I will.”   – Edward Everett

I will leave you with a few festive images and wishes for all the best to you and your loved ones.

Challenge – pass it along

I also issue to you  a challenge to give back, not only during this time of year, but practice it all year.

Random acts of kindness.

Pay it forward.

A smile to a stranger.

Buy someone a coffee.

Whatever you want to call it, and however it looks for you.

Do good.  Be good.

Pass it along!