Michael Sauers

December 8, 2025

I love to celebrate Christmas, both religious and secular. In fact I broaden the celebration to the time between Thanksgiving and New Years. I have so much to be thankful and grateful for even as I fend off the blatant commercialization of these holidays. Regardless of how I define success, I have everything I need and much of what I want. Most of us are not extravagant but, instead, comfortable. Much of this is the result of accumulated family wealth, education, hard work and zip codes.

I am so fortunate. Currently, according to the World Bank, 3 to 4 billion people struggle to survive. Lack of food, medical care, education, housing, employment, child care, elder care and self-determination smother people. Wars, dictatorial governments, climate change, over-population, drug cartels, etc. add to the chaos.

As a gesture of holiday spirit, I am not going to engage in finger pointing but rather express hopes and dreams for the future. I hope that the world’s movers and shakers wake up to the immense suffering that surrounds us and threatens to cancel any chance of a clear conscience and moral clarity. Collectively we cannot hide our heads in the sand. My hope is that a wake up will bring focus to new priorities.

There are vast amounts of money to be made after the basic needs of humanity are met. Oodles of dollars can be realized without devastating the eco-systems of the world and the creatures that inhabit them. The suffering of both human and non-human sentient creatures can be eliminated while those who chose to pursue wealth do so.

We need to love or at least like our fellow humans and non-humans. We need to appreciate and respect the dignity of individuals while acting to raise the standards of the masses. No more poverty. All people are assets who through self-determination contribute to development of all endeavors in a community effort. It is not about survival of the fittest but rather the shared success of all.

So, this Christmas, let us begin with ourselves. We must love ourselves. That love can then radiate out to our friends, family, community and beyond. The world can be changed one person at a time but still collectively.

That is my hope. That is my sweet dream.

Merry Christmas!