Counting Our Blessings

It’s the time of year when people come into various home improvement stores in a panic because they have to have their home interior projects done by Thanksgiving or Christmas. Why? Because they will have guests and the things they’ve stared at all year now have urgency and need to be taken care of immediately.

This year, instead of panicking and stressing yourself out, treat yourself to a pay-it-forward kind of holiday season. Let’s think instead of what the holidays really bring to our homes. Most of the time, they bring friends and family. They bring memories, games, and if we are lucky, they bring vacation and relaxation.

So, instead of focusing on how to do last minute home improvements or concerning ourselves with which colors are trending, take a minute to think about those in our community whose last priority is the color of their walls. Think about those who are more concerned about where their next meal will come from instead of how to get rid of all their “junk.” Focus for a minute on our service men and women who are living on an Army Base half way across the world and have no idea what their homes look like this very moment.

As I get older and my kids ask me what I want for my birthday or Christmas, I have a hard time answering. I saw a quote recently that said something to the effect of as you grow older, your wish list gets smaller because the things you really want are things that can’t be bought. That struck me as a pretty profound and true statement.

With the holidays fast approaching, there are those less fortunate who would appreciate some thoughtfulness, like if we smiled at them or simply said hello, never mind if we shared something or actually interacted with them. Instead of avoiding eye contact with a homeless person and hurrying past, acknowledge them and say hello. If you happen to have an apple with you or something that you could pass along, do it. The feeling you get from that is a good one. I promise. And it sets a great example for your kids or better yet, when that person pays it forward. Ever have someone in line ahead of you buy your coffee? Not only does it feel good, you in-turn do the same. You pay it forward.

These next few months are the time volunteers ask for donations. Instead of feeling irritated, please feel blessed that you are fortunate enough to have something to give. Plan for it so that when you see them or have someone approach you, you are prepared and have something to share with them. Instead of feeling guilty passing by or saying no, you can exchange a smile and give them something to pay forward. November is when the local Boy Scouts collect donations for the food bank. I’m sure somewhere in your cabinet or pantry, you have an item that you don’t need and can be donated. November is also the month when our local community does a coat drive that allows you to donate coats in various boxes around town that will get distributed to the people that need them. You can multi task by de-cluttering and helping your community.

So this holiday season, instead of stressing about how your house looks, be blessed to have a house in which to host those guests. Relish the time you get to spend with that family member who may not be here for the next holiday season. Take time to enjoy the things you really wanted that simply couldn’t be bought.

#homeessentials