Since this is the season known for being thankful and for giving to others, it got me wondering why do we only recognize how we give and receive during this brief time of the year.
As I began to decipher what I do to give back, I was amazed how much I, and probably most of us, really do all the time in helping others, however, we don’t recognize it as such. In looking back, some of the bigger things that came to mind for me were:
•Donating my talents of reflexology to dying patients to help in their process;
•Offering free reflexology sessions to women living in an abuse shelter;
•Monetarily supporting different charities; and
•Working on community projects to help clean up their city.
As I thought more about it I realized that the things we do everyday are just as important but since it is more a way of life, we don’t seem to notice them as much:
•Opening the door for someone (man and/or woman);
•Picking up paper towels littered on a bathroom floor in a store or restaurant;
•Putting money into a parking meter I notice had expired so someone wouldn’t get a ticket;
•Paying the toll for a car behind me;
•Offering money to a person in front of me at a grocery store who was short of funds; and
•Taking care of a lost animal until the owner could be found and notified.
I know for all of us, the list is endless on both ends whether we are giving or receiving. Many times we forget just how important a pleasant smile or a genuine complement can be to change someone’s day.
As we go through this beautiful holiday season, I urge you to remember we are all here for a very specific reason and we all have different needs at different times. We are never at the “top” of the hill nor are we ever at the “bottom.” I see it as a constant movement where there is always someone ahead of us so they can offer a helping hand. At the same time, we are also available to offer a helping hand to someone in further need than us.
Take a few minutes to remember the many ways you are giving back and know that you are making a difference even if you aren’t aware of it all the time. I wish you all blessed peace, happiness, joy and a merry Christmas!
Pattie
Tags: giving, reflexology, thankful, women
Your blog looks fabulous. I love your first entry. It is a wonderful message that we should all practice random acts of kindness.
Wonderful message and I especially loved the “hills” reference. We are so blessed and I was glad to recognize some of my own life in your examples. Peace to you this season and always. Love
Yes Mr. Blenner I agree animals are being mistreated and abandoned lately in record numbers. I, personally, would live in my car before I got rid of my loving dog(s). However, I am realizing there are two sides to every story and I know compassion is important to not just the injured/neglected animal but the owner also. If we could help people to understand that spaying and neutering is so important these days and that getting their animals from a shelter or rescue as you did helps stop the insanity of having to put a million animals to death each year. Also, if we could encourage pet stores to use shelter and rescue animals instead of breeders we would be ahead of the game too. Thank you for doing what you did and we will all continue to educate and help those who maybe can’t see the bigger picture right now due to their current circumstances.