The new year is upon us; filled with new challenges, joys, achievements, and profound moments. The end of every year is a time to self-reflect, for many. To see what flaws we can drum up about ourselves and vow to abolish said flaws in a years time. How charming.
Don’t get me wrong, I do it too. But I’m taking a different approach this year. My resolution is to give back more in 2014 than I did in 2013. No self-depricating here. No half-hearted vows or broken promises to myself. In 2014, let’s just be happy with what we do have going for us.
Think of the things you have. The shirt your wearing. The leftovers you had for lunch. The car you drove to work today (or, if you are even luckier, the car you didn’t drive today because you got off work on New Year’s Eve). The warm home you get to sleep in every night. Those are all things to be thankful for, no matter how minor they might seem on a daily basis. Imagine your life without those things, and you soon begin to realize just how immensly important it is that you have them.
Cherish and be thankful for your life. And if you are fortunate enough to have these simple luxuries, it’s important that you give back. The world can be an even better place if we all help each other out. Instead of making a New Year’s resolution to become a better you, make a resolution to make the world a better one. After all, we’re all on this giant rock together, we might as well make the best of it.
I know what you’re thinking, making the world better sounds like an impossible goal for one person. For one person, it is. But if we all pledge to do a few good deeds throughout the year of 2014…well that’s a lot of good the world wouldn’t have otherwise.
Much like our simple luxuries make our live’s easier, simple good deeds make others live’s much easier.
Let’s set it up
Awhile back I heard about a food drive the St. Louis County Public Library was holding for the months of November and December. Partnering with Operation Food Search, they placed big blue trash cans inside the libraries to encourage everyday schmucks like you and I to drop off non-perishable foods for the less fortunate. I began collecting, buying, and scouring my house for non-perishables I didn’t need. I posted on Facebook what I was doing, in hopes of other contributors. Both my mother and Jon’s donated to my cause, which was helpful. I made it a habit to try and buy one canned good every time I went to the grocery store, in an effort to slowly collect. Eventually, I started filling up my counter space with canned and boxed foods.
The very best part of this good deed was that I got a message on Facebook from a girl I hardly knew saying she had food to donate if I wanted to meet up with her. I stopped by her house one weekend and was in awe of just how much she gave me to donate. A large heavy box filled with food. She easily contributed to a third of my collection. What a good person. Thank you for helping, Meagan.
The deed
20. Donate food.
Also, I’d like to thank all of Jon and I’s friends for being supportive in every possible way when we were down on our luck a few weeks ago. Having most of your Christmas presents stolen is very disheartening. But together, you guys restored our faith and your overwhelming support helped us have a Merry Christmas despite the unfortune we had. Thank you a million. XO
libbylbishop 