Today in the United States, we observe the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Many communities and organizations celebrate this day by holding days of service.

It's a great idea to participate in these events, just like it's a great idea to donate to food pantries and other agencies at Christmas. But it's very important to make giving back part of your life year-round.

There are lots of ways to do that:

1) You may wish to establish a standing donation that goes from your paycheck or checking account to the charity or charities of your choice.

2) You could take on a regular volunteer gig — weekly, monthly, whatever works for you.

3) You can set aside a portion of your income for charitable purposes and make quarterly "grants" to the causes you wish to support.

4) You can decide to volunteer time on bigger projects once a month or once a quarter — whatever works for you.

There are as many possibilties as there are people. The key is finding a way to incorporate kindness and charity into your life — not as a holiday event, but as the norm.