‘Tis the season for goodwill

It's that time of year again. Finals and projects are piling up and the end of the semester is calling. Long lines in Starbucks, students staying in the library until 1:59:59 a.m. and the various zombie-esque creatures walking around after a series of all-nighters are just a few things one may encounter across our campus. It is easy to get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and the end of the semester, so easy that sometimes we forget about the most important part of the holiday season, and that is our fellow human being.

Sure, it is easy to stay in our own path and not worry about anyone else, but does it really do us good as a human race? In my eyes, we are all in this rat race together, so why not help each other out along the way? Spread some of that holiday spirit to someone and promote goodwill towards others.

For starters, always be sure you say "Please" and "Thank you," no matter where you are.  These simple words can change someone's day in an instant. Take the time to hold the door open for that beautiful girl behind you. Maybe she will see your gentlemanly qualities, give you her number, and then you can take her out to a nice seafood dinner.

When you go in almost any shopping establishment, throw that little bit of spare change to the Salvation Army volunteer who is standing out in the cold collecting for others in need. If everyone gave just a dollar, tremendous things could happen. So often we become stagnant and satisfied with where we are in life we forget about our fellow man.

I know what you're thinking: "Is this guy trying to be like that cute little kid off of the motion picture Pay It Forward?"While some days I do wish I was Haley Joel Osment with multiple motion pictures under my belt before the age of 12, unfortunately I am not. This does not mean we can't make the same sized impact that he does in the movie.

We have hands and feet for a reason. This world will be a better place if we guide it in that direction. Instead of pointing out differences like religion, race, sexual orientation and social class, why don't we point out how we are all similar? Take the time to realize that the people around you may not be going through the same events that your life has given you. Everyone has their own struggles, and sometimes your fellow man needs somebody to lean on. We are all trying to make it in a world that encourages us to fly solo and only look out for number one. We have to fight this trend if we want even an inkling of other's help in our own greatest times of need.   So I challenge you, do something nice for someone, you never know when you may need it down the road.