The shopping is well underway, and all the presents should be wrapped on time. And once the plans for the big day have been made, don’t forget to slow down, relax and enjoy the holiday season and all the finer things that come with it.

Whatever faith one may adhere to, we can all agree that the spirit of the season can be meaningful to one and all. Kindness, charity and camaraderie are ideals that we particularly embrace at this time, and wish to uphold throughout the year. If we can be firm enough in our convictions to see that through, then our world will be a better place for us all to share.

We try our best, and that is all that can be asked of us.

Let us enjoy this holiday season to the fullest. Exchange gifts with those closest to us, keep in touch with our loved ones remotely, catch up on our big dramatic doings in life, and all the rest. But let us also give a little thought to extending that warmth and sense of solidarity into the year to come as we look forward to the better times ahead.

Looking into the joyful face of a child filled with wonder as the lights are brightened fills us with a sense of resolve that we will persevere and protect our own. That the most important thing we can do as responsible citizens is to make certain that our future is safe and secure as we launch into the future.

We may certainly face adversity and disagreement from time to time, but we can hold that spirit of tolerance and magnanimity within ourselves as we deal with it.

We are only human, and often fall short of it. But it is well worth the effort to try.