3 Inspiring Examples For This Season of Holidays

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In the spirit of this season of holidays, all pointing out the need for kindness and goodwill to mankind, I want to take a break from my usual information security, privacy and compliance topics and share with you some of the things that inspire me and my family during this magical and special time.

I think it is important to recognize and look to those who do so much good for others as inspiration and positive role models. This year while watching and reading the news, my family and I found the following particularly inspiring, and perhaps you will also.

1. A real Santa...in Kansas City.

We first heard about Larry Stewart last year around this same time, and how over a period of 30 years, he anonymousy handed out over $1 million, one $100 bill at a time, to those he encountered who were truly in need. His story of how he touched others is truly inspiring. He died of cancer earlier this year, and it is good to see others stepping in to carry on his caring humanity.

This story really touched my family and inspired us to do more for others. Random acts of kindness, particularly to those who have apparently not received much kindness in their lives, truly is magical thing.

There is a great website, Secret Santa USA, that talks about Larry Stewart's Secret Santa legacy, and provides information about how you, too, can be a Secret Santa.

2. The 50% League.

The members donate 50% of their income, and often their time, helping others in need. Can you imagine!?

This really touched my family also. What inspiring stories of unselfish giving!

3. Dave Thomas Foundation.

The other night my sons and I watched "A Home for the Holidays," a show with performers, such as Sheryl Crow, Fergie, Carol King and others, performing and highlighting many stories about wonderful children, of all ages, who have been dealt many hardships and need good, loving homes. My sons could not understand how so many children did not have families of their own. They were happy to see the stories of those who found, at last, homes. Not only children's lives changed, but also many of our leaders of the future created.

In this season of goodwill and giving, my family and I wish you all wonderful, safe, happy and healthy holidays!

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Rebecca Herold's Bio:

Rebecca Herold,CISSP, CIPP, CISM, CISA, FLMI, has been providing information security, privacy and regulatory assistance and services to organizations from a wide range of industries for over 18 years. Rebecca was instrumental in building the information security and privacy program while at Principal Financial Group, which was awarded the CSI Information Security Program of the Year Award in 1998. IT Security ranked Rebecca as one of the top 59 IT security influencers, and Computerworld put Rebecca their list of the 25 top privacy experts and on their list of the 9 best privacy consulting firms. Rebecca has been CPO for two consulting organizations, and has had her own information privacy, security and compliance business since 2004. Rebecca has written chapters for several books, dozens of articles, and has been writing a monthly privacy column for the CSI Alert newsletter since the beginning of 2001, and is working on her 11th book. Some of her other books include The Privacy Papers, Managing an Information Security and Privacy Awareness and Training Program, The Definitive Guide to Security Inside the Perimeter (Realtime Publishers), The Shortcut Guide to Improving IT Service Support through ITIL (Realtime Publishers), and The Practical Guide to HIPAA Privacy and Security Compliance. In addition, Rebecca is the leader of The Realtime IT Compliance Community where she posts to her IT Compliance weblog. You can contact Rebecca at: rebecca_herold@realtimepublishers.net.

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