Peace & Goodwill

Reflections on Kindness at Christmas

I feel like the train is slowly pulling into the station. The whistle has blown, and the locomotive hisses, releasing a puff of white steam that drifts past my window seat. As I gaze out at the thinning crowds, I’m reminded that the true spirit of Christmas is ready to enter our hearts. This is the time when I settle into a traditional zone of peace and goodwill — a feeling that begins in my heart.

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.”

Calvin Coolidge

At this moment, my wish for everyone is simple: that we put our differences aside. Not just to understand our place in humanity, but to truly feel how deeply we are connected to it.

A Lesson from History

The Christmas Truce of 1914 reminds us that, even in the darkest times, it’s possible to set aside what divides us. During that miraculous moment in history, soldiers on opposing sides laid down their weapons and met in No Man’s Land. They shared food, songs, and a fleeting but powerful sense of peace and goodwill. It’s a story that inspires us to believe in humanity’s ability to unite, no matter how dire the circumstances.

Ripples of Change

Earlier this year, I wrote about The Ripple Effect the idea that a small action can create waves of change far beyond its starting point. This concept feels especially fitting during the holiday season, where even the smallest acts of kindness can resonate deeply. Each of us has the power to be the pebble that starts a ripple of peace.

What can I do to create these ripples?

• I can give up the next spot in line.

• I can slow down behind the car in front of me.

• I can hold the door for the person behind me.

• I can smile at strangers.

• And most importantly, I can lay down the emotional weapons I carry.

These small actions are my way of embodying peace and goodwill, creating the first ripples of change in my heart and, hopefully, in the hearts of others.

“Nothing I can do or say will change the structure of the universe. But maybe, by raising my voice, I can help the greatest of all causes—goodwill among men and peace on earth.”

Albert Einstein

Wishing all of you a blessed and peaceful Christmas. May your heart have plenty of room for the people who cross your path this season.

Talk soon…

G