I spent many a Christmas away from home, in bad weather or good, at sea, or in foreign ports, but never felt that bad about it. My one main Christmas tradition is always to give to the Salvation Army; coins to the kettle with an attendant without uniform, paper money to those in uniform. Give toys to the needy. Watching "A Christmas Carol" with Allister Simm as Scrooge is another good way to remember the real spirit of Christmas. These simple things bring me and my family some pleasure. It's not the gifts, the tree, or the food; its about honouring a small child who changed the world. Visit your friends and hug them, speak kindly to one another, try to right a wrong; and remember there are those who are not afforded these simple luxuries on this planet. One day, soon enough, you will measure the quality of life not by what you owned, or the bad things you did, but by the good you did, and that you were a benefit to others along the way. If you can do that, you need not feel bad about Christmas day at all; it was just one day in your year, preserve it as the best if you can; to honour the child who died for you.