I have always thought that Christmas is too commercial. It has gotten to the point that it teaches our children to be very, very materialistic. And it gets more so with each passing generation.

How do I deal with it? I get into a "giving mood". My daughter is 26, so we don't have to buy toys anymore. We have no grandchildren to buy toys for, either. But we still buy them, and we donate them to Toys For Tots. It doesn't cost a lot of money. We also donate food and time to the local homeless center. As depressed as I get, I at least have food, clothing and shelter.

This year my Kiwanis Club has sponsored a new club, an Aktion Club. This club is for developmentally disabled adults who want to give back to the community. This evening I chaperoned them to our local mall, where they did some Christmas caroling. they had a wonderful time, and their enthusiasm and spirit rubbed off on many of the people who were there. It certainly rubs off on me, and that is something that I really need.

The best way to lift our spirits is to help others lift their spirits.