It's easy to get caught up in the insanity of the season. Although we spend countless hours making our lists and shopping for the special people in our lives, Christmas isn't just about the gifts, is it? Ask anyone about their favourite present and they'll tell you how it made them feel. It's about creating emotions. It's about making someone feel loved and appreciated. But what about total strangers? How do you spread those feeling to people you've never even met? Here are a few stories that have warmed the cockles of my heart and strengthened my faith in humankind. Earlier this month, a woman walked into a Michigan store and anonymously paid off a few shoppers layaway items. Her only request: that the orders included toys. She simply left a balance of $10 on each. One of the recipients was a single mom of a 12 year old autistic boy. In an effort to survive, she had adopted the idea that everyone was out for themselves and that life was just one trial after another. This Secret Santa reminded her that there are still people out there that think of others before themselves. Not only did she brighten a child's Christmas that day, she restored her faith in people and the world at large. Last Friday, Justin Bieber performed a private concert for Whitney Elementary, a high poverty school in Las Vegas. In addition to touring the school, talking to the kids and handing out presents, he handed over $100,000 check to the principal, Sherri Ghan. [HTML1] I applaud Justin for putting smiles on the faces of these very worthy children and their needy families, but the real hero in this story is Sheri. When she arrived at Whitney 8 years ago, she was shocked to see the students eating ketchup packets. When she realized that they were grappling with homelessness, she told the parents “I’ll pay your electrical bill, your utilities, I’ll give you food or clothes, whatever you need, as long as you give me your child and then help raise that child as a person of character.” OMG. That phrase warms my heart like you wouldn't believe. These stories are about the beauty of the people that we share our world with. They're about selflessly wanting to spread the joy and paying it forward. They're about wanting our world to be a better place. They're about small acts of kindness and watching them take flight. This time of year has a way of opening our hearts and making them smile. Now isn't that what Christmas is all about. Happy Holidays to you and yours.