Always hunger somewhere

Too much to eat? Restaurant portions are often much larger than they need to be and as a result we sometimes leave a lot on our plates. Think about asking for a bag for those leftovers and giving them to the first homeless person you encounter. It’s a simple act. It didn’t cost you anything extra. It can really help ease the hunger being experienced by someone else.

 

This is just one of the many things we can do every single day to give back and help others. Another possibility is ordering two sandwiches when you place your lunch take-out order. One is for you of course, and the other you simply hand to someone in need that you come across on your way back to work. Yes, this one cost a little, but if you can afford it, it will surely be appreciated!

 

At the end of the year, there were food donation barrels all over the place and organizations were doing special holiday lunches or dinners for Thanksgiving and Christmas. What about the rest of the year though?  Except for the weekly soup kitchens and meal programs that exist in major cities, we don’t see this outreach, yet the need still exists. People are hungry every single day of the year. Let’s keep that spirit alive that is so evident during the holidays and do what we can to ease hunger. Simple steps like those above are a place to start and we can also look for year-round food pantries and meal programs to donate to.

 

If the need is great where you live and it looks like nothing is happening, perhaps you could be the one to start a program!  If you are barely getting by and really cannot afford any extra expense, perhaps you can volunteer for a food program.  That is certainly helpful too!

At lunch today

At lunch today, see what you can do to brighten someone else's day.  It might seem odd for me to zoom in on lunchtime, but we should start somewhere, right?

 

Do you eat at home alone?  Consider inviting someone over to join you at mealtime.  Another alternative to that would be to go out somewhere, but still invite a friend.  You don't necessarily need to volunteer to pick up the check.  Just giving someone company can brighten their day - and yours!

 

If you normally go for take-out, think about buying an extra meal (a simple sandwich for example) and then handing it to a homeless person on the street.  Standing in line at a fast-food place?  Pay for the person behind you too.  (Since you don't know what they are ordering, approximate the cost or just casually ask them).

 

Having lunch at work without going out can be a bigger challenge.  If a coworker approaches the microwave at the same moment you do, insist that they use it first.  If you have fresh fruit, cookies, crackers, or anything easily shared, offer some to a coworker.

 

These are just a few examples.  I'm sure if you think about it you can come up with many more ways to brighten people's day at lunchtime.

Concerned about feelings on Valentine's Day

There still is a little time before Valentine's Day comes. (It's the 14th of next month). I wanted to repeat something though and do it ahead of time to hopefully reach some of your thoughts. I've written about this before, but I really think it can stand to be repeated. I'm talking about the "exclusive" nature of Valentine's Day.

In school, kids often bring in Valentine cards to exchange with other kids in their class and sometimes with other classes as well. It all ends up being a big popularity contest though. The new kid who isn't known yet, or the students who aren't as popular might not get any cards at all. Instead, they would have hurt feelings and would go home crying at the end of the day. People end up dreading coming to school that day.

 

The same kind of thing can happen in the workplace.  Some employees exchange cards.  Flowers arrive from husbands and boyfriends.  Sometimes there are chocolates or balloons or teddy bears.  It lifts the spirits of the recipient, but who about the one sitting there who gets nothing? 

I'm not saying we have to supply cards and gifts for the whole world, but perhaps there are a few things we can do to be more considerate of those other people.  For example, some schools have a policy that if you bring Valentine cards in to exchange, there must be one for everyone. The same thing is true with things like cupcakes or cookies.  Another possibility is to be more discrete.   This works in the workplace a lot better though than with kids in a classroom.

 

What are your thoughts about this?  Is it fair though to tell a child who he or she must give to? Should the school get involved? Do employers need to monitor such things? Do we need to care about the feelings of others?  What do YOU think?

COLD!!!

It's cold out there!  Some places are much colder than where I am.  Some places are also covered with snow and ice.  We still are in the early stages of winter. Oh my!

 

If you are in any effected areas, stay safe.  Help others too.  Stay in touch with friends and relatives and make sure nobody is stuck outdoors.  This is true for animals of all sizes too!  Some people have pets that stay outside all of the time.  There are also farm animals that generally stay outdoors of course too.  Think about these animals.  Is your barn heated?  Does your horse have a blanket?  The dog can go outside briefly for his potty break, but inside he must come right afterward.  If it's cold to you, it's cold to your animals too!  Be aware.

 

For those doubters, look at the facts.  See those temperatures and wind chills that are being reported on.  Can you remember this happening before?  Well, many are breaking records - BIG records.  This is serious folks.  We need to protect ourselves and our animals, as I said, and we also need to finally start taking climate change seriously.  We need to act before it is too late!  Take a few moments to talk to some of your friends, co-workers, and family members.  Take some time too and contact elected officials.  Tell them they must address this issue NOW!