Secret Santa Dead at 58

America lost an inspirational hero on Friday. His name was Larry Stewart and he gave away a total of $1.3 million by roaming the streets and anonymously handing out money in December of each year. He gained international attention in November after he revealed himself as the Secret Santa. He was diagnosed in April with cancer, and wanted to use his celebrity status to inspire others to make random acts of kindness.

His private holiday giving started in December 1979 when he was at a drive-in restaurant nursing his wounds from having been fired. It was the second year in a row he had been fired the week before Christmas. Hmmm, does that sound like some local folks who experienced a similar problem last month?

"It was cold and this carhop didn't have on a very big jacket, and I thought to myself, 'I think I got it bad. She's out there in this cold making nickels and dimes,"' he said. He gave her $20 and told her to keep the change.

I find it interesting to see how different people react to similar adverse situations. As the saying goes, "Things can always be worse, so be thankful for what you have". If you think to yourself that things can't get any worse, spend some time volunteering at a hospital. There are plenty of people there that would love to have your good health.

It's a shame that we often don't hear about people who make a difference until they are gone. In his memory, do something nice for a co-worker today or consider becoming a Secret Santa member yourself.