My friend Pattie has one of those genuinely fun and outgoing personalities that most every shy girl envies. No matter where she is or what she's doing, she has this warm way of reaching out to people so that they feel welcome and accepted exactly as they are. For people who know Pattie, it is no surprise that for the last twenty-plus years, she has organized a group of people to spread holiday cheer on Christmas Day by singing carols at a senior living center near her home.
Last week, I joined Pattie, her husband Fred, and a group of other people for the first time, happily if not warily making an exception to my "No Singing in Public for Shelly" rule. As I watched resident after resident's face light up when Pattie gave them a hug and spent a few moments visiting with them, I was reminded of the following quote by Barbara De Angelis:
"Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference."
Like Pattie does on Chistmas Day and every day, you really can share your love and kindness with people anytime of year. Think about it: Where can YOU spread some holiday cheer today?