It is (it was) Giving Tuesday, December 1st, 2015—maybe you missed it this week or this year but I like to think that GIVING Tuesday can be devoted to any day of the week that you deem appropriate. On that particular day, you can choose to give yourself a break from all the many tasks you fill your calendar with, you can schedule in volunteer time, you can use your skymiles, points, or cash to give back to an organization of your choosing, or give of yourself to your family (in a different capacity than you normally do). Whichever way you choose to GIVE back is solely up to you! That’s what makes giving beautiful in my opinion.
On Giving Tuesday, I briefly heard about the coined day that follows Cyber Monday on the radio on my way back from early morning drop off. I had a full day of reorganizing the kitchen, the kitchen table (my desk), the laundry, and more after being sick for two weeks. The hours of my day whirled by and I only spent a few minutes on social media noting all of the various ways people were joining the movement to GIVE BACK on this day. I wanted to keep scrolling but I was afraid that I’d lose my momentum of giving back to our household today. There was still laundry to fold, a text to send about volunteering in my daughter’s first grade class for the month of December, dinner to cook, homework to be accomplished, gifts to load for a special out with friends tomorrow, etc.
However, I was reminded of that balance in all we try to achieve in our lives—-giving to yourself, giving to your family, giving to others…and I although the scales may be skewed at times, I know that giving is a part of who we are as a family. Every month, we give of ourselves, our talents, our time, our money, our food, and enough to know that it makes a difference. When I hear my daughter’s peers say, “Are we going to make something today?” when they see me at school or when I hear my daughter tell our neighbor, “If you need help with anything else, let us know.” I know that volunteering our time is a vital part of who we are as a family.
How are you giving back this Tuesday? This month? The rest of this year? Next year?
Photo Credit: Giving Tuesday Facebook
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I love this! One of the ways we give back this time of year is to put together Winter Care Packages for the homeless people we encounter in our area. They include snacks, toiletries, gloves, socks, and a hat. It’s helpful to people, and it models generosity for my boys.
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