My wife Tina and I recently attended a memorial service at a temple in Andover, Massachusetts for Ina Segal, the wife of one of my college fraternity brothers. Ina had taught third grade in Reading, Massachusetts for 35 years, and several speakers noted her positive impact on hundreds of students during her career. Ina cared about every one of her students, and they, in turn, cared right back. She often attended the weddings of former students or took them out for ice cream. Indeed, one of Ina’s former students tended to her in the hospital during her long bout with pancreatic cancer.

That experience got me to thinking about the angels who light up the world, a refreshing departure from the mean-spirited presidential campaign. So here’s a holiday toast to:

• The people who teach the children in our schools. If children represent our future, the teachers are the ones who prepare them to shape it with bold verve, a sharp mind and a big heart.

• The writers and musicians and actors and artists who help us see and know the world — and ourselves.

• The police officers and firefighters and military service personnel who risk their lives for us and stand ready to help if needed.

• The good souls who serve in soup kitchens and food pantries, providing not just sustenance but a sign that someone cares. And to the many many others who volunteer in countless ways to make the world a better place.

• The light-hearted types who can laugh at themselves.

• The craftspeople who care enough to do a job right and then stand behind it.

• The doctors and nurses who take the time to really listen to their patients.

• The “little people” who, despite being in what are perceived as low level jobs — fast-food workers, custodians, house cleaners, etc. — maintain a positive upbeat spirit.

• The little kids who make us feel young because of the questions they ask, the delight they share and the love they give.

• To the senior citizens who rise above the “I’ve got mine” mindset and continue to care about future generations, about all young people and not just their grandchildren.

• To the billionaires who invest in ways to solve the world’s problems, not just to fatten their own wallets. (Think Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, not the Koch brothers.)

• To the scientists and environmentalists working to understand and minimize the effects of climate change. And to all those who care for our planet.

• To the citizens in Bath and Brunswick and Freeport who do so much all year to make our towns livable, sponsoring holiday lights and floral decorations and concerts and parades.

• In sum, to every person of any age or stage in life who vows, “The world isn’t perfect, but I’ll do my part to add some light.”

David Treadwell, a Brunswick writer, welcomes commentary or suggestions for future “Just a Little Old” columns at [email protected].