Blogging Your Blessings

The holidays can be a difficult time for many people who don’t have family nearby, a home to sleep in, or food to eat. A great way to be a good in the world is to do good for the world and the people who inhabit it. Volunteer a few hours of your time to work in a soup kitchen and help serve those who are in need of a hot meal. You can also use this time to get your family involved and impart good moral values on your children. For many years running, I have volunteers at Glide Memorial Church in downtown San Francisco and enjoyed each and every minute of it.   I bet your community has a place like Glide that can be your “happy place” meaning that you make other people happy and that alone filled YOU with joy.   But if you find yourself in the San Francisco Bay Area around Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years, come on down and we’ll have fun together serving up some love: -           GLIDE on over and Serve a Meal! The Volunteer Resource Program at GLIDE places about 10,000 vol

Think about the things that motivate and inspire you and how you can inspire others. What lifts you up? Who fills you with hope and happiness? Cultivate these qualities in yourself and pay attention to who provides your “day lifters.” You may be surprised!

Buy an artificial Christmas tree. People love my blue and silver “disco tree” which I got at yard sale a few years ago. It is VERY festive!  On average, over 30 million Christmas trees are sold in the United States each year—that’s over 30 million trees cut down each year, trees we could be saving and using for oxygen, housing material, and paper products instead of decoration for a small amount of time. Consider buying an artificial tree—you will save money within the first few years and they look just as nice without the mess of pine needles! http://urbanext.illinois.edu/trees/facts.cfm

Don’t want or need anything for Christmas? Have a friend or loved one that wants something unique? Visit www.heifer.org to view and purchase some of the most helpful and generous gifts that can be given—but they’re not for you or anyone you know. Heifer International is an organization that works with communities to end hunger and poverty by providing sustainable agriculture and animals to families in need. You can “purchase” a goat for $120, a flock of geese for $20, a hope basket for $50, and browse the website for other options. These gifts are priceless (figuratively) and won’t go unappreciated or unused. Think about the positive impact you can make on family-a world of difference, actually!

Make your Christmas presents this year. It’s more personal and will save you money. From a tin of homemade fudge to a colorful knitted scarf, your family and friends are sure to appreciate your hard work and thoughtfulness. You can also think bigger! I have a favorite resource that lists many ways to knit, sew and quilt your way to a better world. www.handcraftedwithlove.net :       Socks For Soldiers knits socks for soldiers serving in the Middle East.       Stitch for a Cause knits, crochets, sews, and quilts blankets and infant apparel for local children's agencies. Based in Louisville, KY, USA.       Stitches From the Heart sends handmade clothing and blankets to premature babies across the nation. Based in Santa Monica, CA, USA.       Stitching Up The World knits, crochets and sews items to donate to a variety of organizations. Their main effort is items for chemotherapy patients in New Hampshire, Based in Candia, NH, USA.       Threads of Love provides clo

What People Really Need Much of the time, kindness is good common sense. Just think about what people really need. In low-income families with no other options, an infant can spend the entire day wearing the same diaper. Due to a lack of funds, some parents cannot afford to change their baby’s diaper more than once a day and most laundromats do not allow cloth diapers to be washed in the machines. Help out a family in need to cover the basics by donating diapers through http://www.diaperbanknetwork.org/