It’s that time of year again, when the colors start changing, the evenings are crisp and we start preparing for the holiday season. This is also the time of year when we become a little more focused on the art of Gratitude.
Gratitude is something we should be practicing all year long; however, the fall season seems to bring it to the forefront of our thinking. November is a time when we see the bounty of our harvests, the gathering of family and friends, and to celebrate all that we are grateful for.
When we think of Gratitude we think of giving. There are so many ways to give, but I’d like to share 3 ways in particular.
First, the giving of our time. This is a fast-paced world, with endless things to fill our day. In the famous words of Ferris Bueller “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Time is a valuable commodity that we can share. Although it can be a sacrifice for us, it is always a gift to others.
It doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are a few ideas.
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Put together a care package. With Hurricane Helene causing such devastation, there are lots of charities who are collecting anything they can to take to those who have suffered from the hurricane. Toiletries, clothing, necessities that are hard to come by. Whatever you can think of, they are in need of.
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Clothing and Food Drives. As the weather shifts to the cooler weather, we can clean out our closets of the excess we might have and donate them to the local organizations that provide clothing for those who might be in need. Food drives are frequent this time of year. The local food bank and other charities are always needing donations to feed and give to the community.
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Clean up trash in the local parks, along the highway and in your neighborhood. Make sure to be safe with doing this. Wear gloves and be careful of the surroundings.
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Clean the house of someone you know who is sick, pregnant, or elderly. Help them with their home, inside and out. With cooler weather comes leaves and debris that need to be picked up in their yards. Help them prepare for the colder months.
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Visit a local hospital. Volunteers who are willing to visit people who are in the hospital, bring comfort to those who are scared and suffering in ways we can’t imagine.
Second is the giving of our treasure. I know times are hard right now. Groceries, gas, everything really, has gone up exponentially. However, giving of the bounty we have, makes a world of difference to those who don’t. Here are a few ways to help in this capacity as well.
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Save a little extra and take it to the grocery store or a restaurant with you. Find someone in the grocery line or restaurant to bless by paying for their items or meal. Pay for the person’s order behind you in the line at a fast-food restaurant or your favorite coffee place.
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Sponsor a family or child. There are many organizations that can help find a family or child that is need. Referrals from people you know, or from your church community can help you find a way to be a sponsor.
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Offer a more generous amount to your church. Many churches have donation plates or a way to give to those in your church family who are in need. This is a great way to give a little extra.
Third, is the giving of our talent. By this, I mean by sharing our expertise in something we can teach or help others with. First, consider what you may be good at. That way you know exactly where your skills can help the most. Once you decide what this might be, choose where you can help. Here are a few ideas.
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Online tutoring. With the internet so available, there are endless platforms or channels you can help with educating others. Create content and share it through your social media platform. The many schools in this area are always looking for people willing to help our youth learn specific skills.
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Look into what the Community is needing. Offer your expertise and share with the community. The local University is looking for specific ways to help the college students that need help with a particular skill.
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Join support groups. Support groups are created to help others overcome challenges they may be facing. Maybe you have dealt with a similar issue and have great ideas on how to overcome them. Encouraging, motivating and helping others is a great way to benefit others by using your talent.
This time of year is more focused on gratitude and the giving to others. So many in our community are in need of these gifts, be it time, treasure or talent. Let’s open our hearts and be willing to go out of our way to give to those in our families, community or country. The giving of these things might not seem like a lot, but, IT IS a lot to those who are receiving them.
For inspiration on how you can put your gratitude in action, visit United Way of Mesa County's list of volunteer opportunities in the Grand Valley at unitedwaymesacounty.org/volunteer.
Time is a valuable commodity that we can share. Although it can be a sacrifice for us, it is always a gift to others.
Encouraging, motivating and helping others is a great way to benefit others by using your talent.