When we think about REALLY helping people, we often think on a grand scale. There have been plenty of natural disasters this year, and there have been and/or will be plenty of opportunities to help. We get excited and start to make plans to go to help with fire victims, dig out from epic blizzards, help with flood relief, or help with hurricane relief. But the details become overwhelming: too expensive, too much time off work, bad asthma, or too damn sad. We pull the plug…
But somewhere in the recesses of our brain, the idea to help percolates, and when we see an advertisement for the Thanksgiving fundraising run we get pumped.
We’ll get in shape and help feed people. We’ll sprint the last mile and come hungry for Thanksgiving dinner, confident that we’ve worked off the calories ahead of time.
But then the “why not’s” come back. We don’t want to get up early and leave our warm beds. Our knees hurt from the surgeries and running is a bad idea. We don’t want to miss out on the football games and hanging out with our family. We don’t do the run.
Still, we’re the tiniest bit pleased with ourselves for the desire/intent to help. We think about doing the run next year. Or maybe volunteer at it. We can afford to let our mind wander for the next few hours, because we know Grandma Etta’s pumpkin, apple and pecan pie recipes by heart. We make two of each, because we know the family shorts themselves on dinner to save room for at least two pieces. Ten people will volunteer to do the dishes, hoping for just one last taste of pie. Everyone will leave happy and tell you how they hope you’ll bake again next year. Although you skipped the run again, in a small way you’ve done something that brings joy to others.
It’s easy to think about how we can help people on a grand scale. And if you can, do them. But also keep in-mind that there are so many little things that you can do to impact somebody’s day in a positive way and model it for your kids. Open a door for the UPS delivery person with a heavy load. Have your kid’s friend come over to give their parents a date night. Buy the person’s coffee who is behind you in-line at Starbucks. Call a family member you know has been having a hard year. Invite someone over for Thanksgiving dinner who would be alone otherwise. Keep your mind open to the little ways to can bring joy to somebody else. It isn’t that hard.
For or now, this parent, spouse and therapist is preparing to hang out in the kitchen this Thanksgiving to wash dishes and get a little more pie.
Until next time.