I was sorting an old bag of mail recently. Those of you who know me well know how much I despise sorting mail. So much junk and so little time. 😏 Anyway, I was slogging my way through a small garbage bag full of old mail when I came upon a sealed envelope that looked like it had an actual card in it. So I opened it up and realized it was a thank you card from when we adopted a family for Christmas several years ago. I wasn’t emotionally prepared for what saw next. It In childlike handwriting at the bottom it said. “Thank you for adopting our family this year. We are really struggling.” It was signed by the child’s first name. For some reason, this hit me like a ton of bricks, maybe because there are so many folks struggling right now to pay bills and put food on the table. Honestly, I burst into tears. Not the “little trickle down one cheek kind of tears” either. It was a full “sobfest, get the Kleenex out, and blow your nose loudly kind of tears.” So many times in life you wonder if what you do makes a difference. Obviously, that time it really did.

So, I’d like to challenge you to two things this month. Here are the two things:

1. Adopt a family or senior for the Holidays. It really does not cost as much as you might think to give a family or a senior citizen a few small gifts this holiday season. The important part is that you are letting someone know you care. Often, that could be more meaningful to someone than the gift(s) themselves. Where can you do this? Look for charitable organizations like The Salvation Army, churches, The United Way, or senior care facilities. Some restaurants will even have decorative items on a holiday tree for their customers to remove and shop for someone. Opportunities seem to be almost everywhere this time of year. Don’t have money to do so? Volunteer your time! Organizations will need help organizing and distributing the gifts too!
2. Since it’s the beginning of the month, maybe you would like to try a one good deed a day for each day of December. Here’s a monthly calendar I made up! Feel free to use or adapt as you like! I am hoping to do all the items on this document.

Here are all the ideas in list form:

Pray or meditate for someone who could use a little boost today.

Make eye contact and smile at one or more strangers today.

Hold the door open for at least 2 people behind you today.

Call up a neighbor and ask if they would like a coffee or hot chocolate. Take them one!

Call up someone you haven’t talked to in a while and chat with them.

Post a compliment for a family member on their mirror.

Volunteer at or donate to a cause you appreciate.

Spend 15-30 minutes picking up trash in a neighborhood or parking lot.

Bring donuts or treats to work or to a friend.

Compliment a stranger for something (their clothes, the way they did something, for being kind, etc…)

Send a real greeting card to someone just to let them know you are thinking of them.

Make eye contact and thank someone who helped you in the drive up line or at a restaurant or store.

Post an upbeat message on social media. Bonus if it directly encourages someone specific.

Offer to take a photo of someone using their camera/phone.

Donate a bag of groceries to a shelter or food pantry.

Let someone merge into traffic in front of you.

Offer to help someone with something.

Donate a bit of money to a worthy cause.

Wish someone “Happy Holidays!”

Give someone a hug (or at least a pat on the back)!

Read something today that makes you smile. Even better, if you share it with someone and it makes them smile as well.

Make someone a craft – paint a picture, write a poem, sing a song, etc…

Take a walk in your neighborhood. Smile or wave at someone.

Clean out a closet and donate clothes, toys, or housewares to a charity.

Be kind to yourself. Reflect on all the good things you have done this month and celebrate by doing something you enjoy.

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Whatever you decide to do, I hope you have a very happy holiday season and share love and kindness to others! 🎁 🕎 🎄 🕯️ 🫶