While every person has a particular mission in life, all human beings have a collective mission: to build loving relationships. The holiday season, when families and co-workers get together for social gatherings, is the perfect time to build and reinforce relationships.

How unfortunate it is, then, when a holiday gathering degenerates into a gossip fest! Gossip is the very antithesis of love and good will, the motifs of the holiday season. Gossip distances people from each other. Not only are the gossipers distanced from the person they are gossiping about, but also the gossipers become distanced from each other, as their superficial camaraderie gives way to feelings of distrust. After all, who can trust a gossiper?

There is no such thing as “harmless gossip.” Sometimes passing on negative information has a very specific, constructive purpose. For example, Mary is justified in warning Jack not to go into business with Tom, because Tom’s last two business ventures went bankrupt. However, if Mary tells other people who have no intention of doing business with Tom about his financial woes, she is gossiping. Gossip always damages. It damages people’s reputations and it damages the bonds of love, respect, and brotherhood which should exist between people. Not only are the gossipers distanced from the person they are gossiping about, but also the gossipers become distanced from each other, as their superficial camaraderie gives way to feelings of distrust. After all, who can trust a gossiper?