With fall fleeting, holiday season fanatics can finally toss their pumpkins to the side and put up the Christmas tree they’ve been waiting to decorate all year. Not only that, but they can do it with a $5 specialty drink in one hand and a candy cane in the other. But if you think this is what the season of giving is all about, think again.

Though it may be perhaps the best time of the year, it’s also the time when people turn a blind eye to the world around them. We as Americans especially become so caught up in the gifts, the Black Friday shopping and the materialistic aspect of it all that we forget what’s truly important.

Whatever holiday you do or don’t celebrate, it’s important to remember that the universe does not stop turning just because the first snow may have fallen. Like it or not, Flint still has no clean water, climate change is still destroying the earth and Yemen is continuing to be in the depths of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

And while presents, hot lattes and sweaters are great and should be enjoyed to the fullest extent during the holiday season, we have to remember that this time of year is not just about ourselves; it’s about those around us.

For the time being, forget about yourself. Forget about the gift you have been wanting all year and focus on helping those who are unable to help themselves. Don’t do it because it makes you feel good or because it benefits you in any way. Do it because you want to, not because you have to.

Not only that, but whatever you do choose to do to help those around you, carry it over into the new year. Too many times, homeless shelters and soup kitchens are left over-flooded with dozens of volunteers. Remember that they don’t only need your help right now, they need it year-round. Though you may only be there for a few hours, that time can make a world of difference for someone else. Never underestimate how far a simple, random act of kindness can go.

It’s okay to go out and buy your family and friends presents, and it’s okay to spend a few extra dollars at an overpriced coffee shop, but just don’t forget to reach into your pocket every once in a while and donate to those who need it the most. If you can, volunteer somewhere, buy that man you always see on the corner a cup of coffee or give to a charity of your choice.

After all, they don’t call it the season of giving for nothing.