Come December, the feeling of Christmas – whether you celebrate it or not – can be felt in the air. It’s that warm, cheery sensation of generosity and indulgence. It’s a day most kids can’t wait for, and a day that most parents don’t worry about needing to force them out of bed, as they are usually the first ones awake, huddled around the tree.
But the holiday season means more than just gifts and presents. It comes with the urge to give back to the community, a desire to help others in less than fortunate circumstances, and there are plenty of people like that in Beijing – just look at some of the few we’ve profiled in “A Season of Giving: Beijing Charities That Need You”. Think one person doesn’t make a difference? Take a look at “Lessons in Life”, a personal essay about the experience of volunteering in rural China, and you may decide otherwise.
It always seems at this time of the year that life passes by in a blink of an eye. We go through the motions of each day only to look forward to the weekend, flipping to the next month on the calendar and waiting for the seasons to change, until suddenly we find it’s December and yet another year has gone by.
Perhaps that’s why December is the month for gathering, the last chance to be with family and friends before we find ourselves back at square one. So, be it Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Eid al Adha or maybe just a break from school, take time this month to cherish those you love before the start of the New Year. And once December is gone and January 2008 is here, we at tbjkids will be ready to do it with you all over again.
Lisa Liang
Managing Editor
editor@tbjkids.com
