My mom and dad were two people who genuinely cared for all the individuals around them.

They didn’t just make time for family and work.

Those two made time for everybody. The beauty part of that was how people whose lives they touched always reciprocated in some way. It was about caring not some cynical deal. My folks had an annual tradition of providing a gift for each service person we knew at the holidays. The mailman, the plumber, the HVAC tech and countless others got a little envelope from dad and a sweet from my mom. They were so not rich people. This was money they set aside, through the year, for this very purpose. I hate that we, as a society, have gotten away from little caring traditions like this. It’s such a great way from moving the perspective from self to the needs of others. Some of the best happiness comes from caring and showing compassion for other people. The other day, the HVAC guy was out at my house. He comes out twice a year. The spring time tune up focuses on the cooling side of the HVAC system. Fall brings him out to be sure the furnace is up to the job of keeping my family warm for the long winter. He is such a great guy and a consummate professional. His thorough work provides comfort and safety for my entire household. As he was leaving, I slipped him a little envelope and a huge chunk of my wife’s apple pie. Maybe the tradition continues. Either way, it sure felt good to do something nice for no other reason than it was nice.

Electric heating