(Editor's Notes by Christina Myer - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

Has anyone else experienced a jump from Labor Day to nearly Christmas in the blink of an eye? When I realized (at this writing) that Christmas is a week away, it came as a shock. It’s not that I’m behind. The tree and decorations are up, most of the shopping has been completed. It’s just that in the day-to-day, it’s hard for me to process how quickly that time has flown.

“Big ball of wibbly wobbly, timey wimey stuff,” indeed. (Apologies to those who are not familiar with Dr. Who.)

I’m hoping for a little slowdown over the holidays, though. I’m hoping the rest of you can experience one, too.

But in the meantime, my thoughts have been just wibbly wobbly enough that it took me a while to notice a change that goes deeper than just the winter doldrums. I’ve been hearing for weeks about fewer people being willing to volunteer for things, fewer people being willing to donate, and nonprofits having a tougher time filling the holiday needs of the families they serve.

It occurred to me, for example, I hadn’t seen a single red kettle into which to put some change while I was out running errands or shopping over the past few weeks. Not one. A coworker reported difficulty finding one as well, and there was speculation that perhaps it has become harder even to find volunteers to ring those bells. (Though I know plenty of civic organizations have taken a day-long shift here and there).

People are nastier to each other than ever — they seem to forget they are dealing with fellow human beings, even when they are NOT hiding behind a keyboard.

But, as happens every year, I got even more insight after heavy snow and cold forced me to think ahead and park my car somewhere walkable, where I knew it would not be stuck and I could get to work.

Each year I have had to do this through two or three stretches over the winter. It’s no big deal to me. I know how to bundle up and you all know I love walking outside.

But for the past several years there have, without fail, been multiple kind-hearted drivers who would slow or stop and ask if I was OK and/or needed a ride. It would always give me the warm-fuzzies, even if I would just say “no thank you, I’m just up the hill.”

This year? Over the course of three days (six trips), precisely ONE person stopped to check on me. (Thank you, ma’am.) Everyone else just zoomed on by. Even when it was 7 degrees.

I suppose it’s possible a few of the drivers are used to seeing me make the trek by now, but it is a heavily traveled route.

And maybe I just look that intimidating, trudging through the snow while vehicles whoosh past me.

It doesn’t matter. As I said, I always turn down the help, anyway. But it gnawed at me that that little change in what I was used to experiencing might be a symptom of a larger change in the way humans think about taking care of one another.

This is a terrible time of year to think about what that might mean.

We’re supposed to be thinking about peace and goodwill to all men, remember?

It’s easy to go into survival/defensive mode and behave as though we need to protect ourselves first. I get it, believe me.

So, I’m not saying stop and offer a ride to the next person you see walking by the side of the road, but I am suggesting that whether it be a Christmas gift to yourself or a New Year’s resolution, consider being the light. Consider setting the example that helps “cause great joy for all people,” this season.

Christina Myer is executive editor of The Parkersburg News and Sentinel. She can be reached via e-mail at cmyer@newsandsentinel.com.