Operation S.A.N.T.A.

After the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary on December 14, 2012 and inspired by the call to action by television anchor Ann Curry, I thought about the call to practice more random acts of kindness. I was shoveling snow last night on our first large snowstorm and I started thinking about what that might mean and how it could look. As the Christmas holiday is looming large, I started to think of ways that I could be Santa to others, and that is where the idea was born.

I thought about those little children who were likely in the beginning stages of their belief. Santa was likely very real to them. Their wonderment would be palpable at this time of year. And then I thought of my own children. My almost 12-year old finally indicated that she 'knew' all about Santa. Pretty good that the magic lasted as long as it did. But I told her that I still hear the bells, that Santa is alive and very real, if you believe.

Santa isn't just a man in a white beard and red suit that shimmies down the chimney leaving presents one day a year. We have tried to teach our children that Santa lives in our hearts all year long and is not this fictional character but a spirit of compassion and understanding and kindness that comes from the heart.

Now that we are moving into the realm of being Santa to others, the next phase of the teaching, I want to set an example to her and others for how to keep Santa alive, but I don't want it to end on December 25th. It has to be all year long. So playing off the idea of the Random Acts of Kindness, and the #20Acts from Ann Curry, a new idea was born:

Operation S.A.N.T.A. - Simple Acts of Niceness To All

I am going to have a page on my blog that I will update as I go with these random acts of S.A.N.T.A. And I invite you to grab my graphic and share it on your site. I have decided to keep the spirit of Santa alive in my heart all year long and to document that here. I invite you to join me.