Love. Give. Celebrate.

‘Trikke riders are, by nature, an accepting, loving, and supportive group.’

Merry Christmas, happy Kwanzaa, happy (belated) Hanukkah, happy Yule, happy Boxing Day, happy Festivus, and happy any-other-December-celebration in which you might participate!

This year – more so than most, for some reason – I am especially struck by the preponderance of blessings and good fortune to which I am privileged. So many people on this planet go to bed hungry, yet I have enough to eat. So many folks cannot sleep soundly because their society is overrun by criminals or warring groups that want to kill them for the color of their skin, their beliefs, or their heritage – yet I get to sleep like a baby. So many are sick and will die of curable diseases for want of a pill that costs a cent or two, yet I can go to the doctor when I have the sniffles. So many are alone in this world, yet I am so incredibly blessed to know the love of friends and family. I am so inestimably grateful that words fail me.

Given the demographics of the average Trikke owner, I’d bet that you, dear reader, are in the same boat. Are we not the fortunate few?

Trikke riders are, by nature, an accepting, loving, and supportive group. Judging by the stories of pain and anguish that whizz by our heads each time we turn on the radio or TV, the world is in desperate need of a massive dose of Trikke-love. But what can we do to spread that love?

The answer is simple, really: please consider volunteering your time or perpetrating random acts of kindness over the next couple of weeks – or longer, even. Go to a long-term care facility and visit with the residents; you would be surprised by the number of folks who do not get a single visitor. Save up a few quarters, throw ‘em in an envelope, and tape them to a vending machine along with a “Have a good day! Pay it forward!” note.

Pay for the order of the guy behind you in line at the drive-through. Call that disabled friend you haven’t thought about or talked to in far too long (chances are good that everyone else has forgotten about him/her too)…

Just do something, anything to give back, to bring one more smile into the world, to make a positive difference for someone else.

In those last moments before we leave this world, it is not our Trikkes or other material possessions we will recall. We will remember those who loved us and made a difference in our lives. We will remember the love, the kindness, and good things that happened to us. We will regret time wasted and opportunities missed, but we will never, ever regret the choices we made to brighten someone else’s day.

So, go make a difference. Love. Give. Celebrate. Life is too short not to!

Merry everything, friends!

-The Trikke-O-Babbler

P.S. (After I wrote this blog, I went to a fast food drive-through for a quick nosh. Wouldn’t you know it, the person in front of me actually paid for my lunch! My heart swelled two sizes, and my waning faith in humanity was restored in that selfsame instant. I returned the favor for the guy behind me, and six hours later, I still feel absolutely high from the joy of it all. Who needs alcohol or drugs, man?! Random kindness is the way to go! You have GOT to try this!!)