Give your time

The countdown to Christmas is shrinking. Only a few days left.

Just yesterday I read some interesting "justice" gift ideas: Volunteer. Even one hour is helpful. Wrap gifts for children in shelters. Write holiday letters to our troops. Escort an older person to do some Christmas shopping. Serve a hot meal at a soup kitchen. I'm sure you can come up with ideas of your own.

It may be too late for this year. But there's always next year.

And speaking of next year, I have decided to give myself the gift of time to do some things on my to-do wish list that simply aren't getting done. To do that, I am discontinuing these weekly blogs—at least for now. I will finish out December. Who knows? I may resume again at some point.

However, if you sign up to the right of this blog post, you can receive my monthly ezine—if you aren't already signed up to receive it. All you will receive when you sign up are the three free gifts that come initially into your email inbox, and after that my ezine once a month. Nothing else. I don't sell your name or email address. I don't send anything additional. Just a monthly ezine to inspire you.

Gifts that keep on giving

In this frenzied season of "shop until you drop" for holiday gift-buying, remember that it's not all about the things we buy in stores or online.

I remember when our children were young, our family gave several gifts of time. We didn't have a lot of money at the time, so we gave the gift of time along with some things purchased in local stores. For example, my sons might give their father certificates good for a number of shoe-polishings or I might give the boys certificates they could turn in for a pie or cookies of their choice. You get the idea. We would each make a little book of tickets or certificates with a variety of items and give to each other.

Perhaps it's time for me to revive some of those ideas. I also know some grandparents who buy tickets to a play, one for themselves and one for the grandchild. Time spent together is such a beautiful gift and one that will give lasting memories as well—the gift that keeps on giving!

What's on your gift-giving list this year?

Be extravagant!

It's often been said that the deepest and most precious things in life cannot be seen or touched, and isn't that true? As Helen Keller said, "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." Although those we love are precious, what is deep and true and meaningful are the things that pass between us in those relationships. The looks, the shared moments, the deep conversations, the special touches.

Author and motivational speaker Leo Buscaglia put it this way: "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

What that reminds me to do is to be generous and completely extravagant with my touch, my smiles, my kind words, the way I listen, my compliments and all kinds of random acts of care and kindness. If I stay focused on how grateful I am for all the precious gifts in my life, it will be easier for me to be extravagant with all the priceless and precious things that cannot be seen or touched.

Let your heart be filled with love—and be generous in spreading it around!

Helping others helps you

Did you know that doing good deeds for others is good for your health? It's just plain good for many reasons, isn't it? We always feel better about ourselves when we can be of service to others and help someone in need.

A 2013 study showed that volunteering actually has a significant impact on blood pressure, making volunteers less likely to develop hypertension. Research also shows a link between giving, unselfishness and a lower risk of early death.

Then there's the "helper's high" that we feel after performing a good deed—when our brains release endorphins (feel-good chemicals). What's not to like about that kind of high?

People who do good in their workplaces are far happier at work, too, according to a study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. And the BMC Public Health journal discovered, after a review of 40 studies, that volunteering is good for mental health, too.

So if you're already doing good things, keep it up—and stay healthy. And if you're not, it's easy enough to find ways to contribute to the happiness of others. So many volunteer opportunities exist plus there's always an opportunity or two for doing random acts of kindness.

Checking in with others

Nearly a month ago I read in one of my favorite inspirational books The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have by Mark Nepo that checking in with each other helps us all stay open to life. It keeps our hearts open.

Nepo said, "... we help each other thrive when the checking in with each other comes from a list of inner kindnesses: How are you today? Do you need any affirmation? Clarity? Support? Understanding?"

I like that. What do you think?

Sometimes we just need someone to ask us how we are today—and what we need. Sometimes we're not even aware of what we need until someone asks in that way.

And surely we all know people who could use those questions asked of them. It's a way of giving—giving love and respect and just plain kindness. Think what a difference that could make in your life and the lives of others.

Life's give-and-take

I've heard it said that when you help someone up a hill, you get that much closer to the top yourself. That's just a lovely side benefit of helping others when they face challenges, isn't it?

So many opportunities exist all around us to help others—whether it's actual, physical help (moving someone, taking meals to shut-ins, working at a soup kitchen) or whether it's encouragement and support as someone goes through a difficult stage of life (perhaps sending a card, making a phone call, paying a visit). We can all remember times when we have been on the receiving end of such help and support. We know how much our load was lightened in the process.

What we don't always think about is what a mutual "transaction" this can be. When we are on the receiving end, we sometimes feel extremely vulnerable. We don't always like how that feels. We don't like to be what we call beholden to others. However, by allowing them to help us, we give them an opportunity to feel good about helping. Someone else gets to feel needed and to get that much closer to the top of the hill, too!

No matter whether you're giving or receiving help up a hill, remember that both of those are important and contain gifts for giver and receiver.

Any hills to climb today?