The presents are all unwrapped. The tree will be coming down soon, along with the stockings, wreaths and a host of other decorations. Everything will go back into an attic or garage for another year.

But, hopefully, the essence of Christmas, that true holiday spirit can be kept on display for all the other 364 days of the year.

In most cases, people are kinder, gentler, more compassionate and, in many cases, just all around better human beings during the holidays.

Well, there is no reason for that to end just because the calendar is about to flip over to January.

There is nothing seasonal about The Golden Rule, the guiding principle that we should “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

That is a great starting point for living our lives. Although it may have originated in the Bible, it transcends religions and is philosophy for how to treat other people.

Many motivational speakers and life coaches have made careers out of offering what can sound like common-sense solutions when it comes to interpersonal communication.

Inc. magazine published a truly insightful article in its April 2016 online edition, offering some great tips on how to train yourself to treat people better. You can read it in its entirety, by visiting tinyurl.com/inc-daskal on the web.

Author Lolly Daskal, president and CEO of the global leadership and consulting firm Lead From Within, says the best way to impact other people’s behavior is to change your own.

Here is a condensed version of Daskal’s nine important principles:

1. Instead of judging people by their past, stand by them and help them build their future.

2. Listen with curiosity, speak with candor, and act with integrity

3. Treat everyone with kindness — not because they are kindhearted, but because you are.

4. Don’t try to make yourself great by making someone else look small.

5. Remember, everyone has a story.

6. We don’t meet people by accident.

7. The best teachers are those who don’t tell you how to get there but show the way.

8. Never look down on someone unless you are helping them up.

9. Appreciate those who have supported you, forgive those who have hurt you, help those who need you.

Christmas may be over, but the spirit of the season can last all year long. That’s a New Year’s resolution we should all make.

Michael Caldwell is publisher of The Jessamine Journal and Jessamine Life magazine. He can be reached at (859) 469-6452 or by email at mike.caldwell@jessaminejournal.com.