Show a Little Seasonal Kindness

The season has arrived when celebrations are a daily event and the nights are filled with love, forgiveness and good times. But there are many in our communities that have little to celebrate. Money is tight, homes and jobs have been lost. Good times are a forgotten memory and a little love can go a long way. With a little effort from everyone kindness can make a difference so try to find a way to share what you have or what you can give emotionally to someone in need.

1. Purchase a selection of inexpensive flowers and hand them out to stranger with wishes for a good future. It will not offend anyone and it gives at least one bright spot in a person's day. It will provide them with a smile to take home to their own family or comfort to know the world still cares in some form for them.

2. Call a friend or family member. Tell them you just wanted to say thank you for being a friend, a sister, a brother, a parent or any number of other things. Make it a positive experience for them. This is not about you, it's about giving to someone who could use a kind word. Sometimes the best thing you can do for others is to let them know you are thinking about them.

3. Help someone. Rake a yard, provide a ride, clean a room, provide an hours decorating with another hour to undecorated after the holidays. Just helping someone clean a bathroom and make it smell wonderful is great for the person with disabilities or physical problems.

4. Give a gift of life to someone you love. A plant from the local store or one that will grow on it's own. Right now there are many gift plants ready to go. They are inexpensive and a kindness that last well beyond the season. You can choose from ready to grow flowers to a simple, sweet bamboo plant. It is a green thing to do and a quiet way to say hello.

5. Take someone to lunch and for a little Christmas shopping. There are many older person who do not have the ability to drive anymore or a friend to shop with. Even if you both just shop for yourself or someone else you would like to give a little cheer to. In other words, share your friendship.

6. Find a homeless shelter or one of the many churches that provide meals for those who can not provide for themselves at this time. Take a good supply of fresh vegetables or fruit. Make sure it is fresh and easy to eat or cook. Most times donations are in the form of canned food and that's wonderful too, but a little fresh food can help a body and soul to remember better times. Choose items such at fresh tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, fresh peaches, fresh lettuce for salads, fresh yellow squash and easy to chew easy to fix items.

7. Do not forget the pets of the world. With job and home losses there are a lot of abandoned animals living without care and food. Find one of the animal shelters and adopt a pet or offer to take one for someone who can no longer care for their own. Also consider providing a large bag of dog and cat food for the shelter as well as blankets and toys for comfort. Shelters will also welcome visitors to just play with many of the animals or sit and love them for a while. Animals become sad when left behind so try to provide a little for them too.

These are only a few ways to show kindness at this time of the year. So much more is going to be needed and this is a good time to start for the life we are now going to live in the future. Most of these ideas cost little or nothing so you don't have to make good money. You only have to be willing to share somewhere in you own little world with someone around you. Your friendship and willingness can make a difference.