Not all of us can do great things. But we can all do small things with GREAT LOVE.
Mother Teresa
CHANGE BEGINS ONE SMALL ACTION AT A TIME; this is my affirmation, my goal for 2021.
When I thought about 2021 and all that lay before me, I wondered what goal I could set, what could I do mentally, physically, spiritually, to leave the negativity and hardships of 2020 behind, what positive change could I create for myself? It was through that time of thought and prayer to be all I could be that I realized that what I really wanted was to do something for someone else because I know that by doing something for someone else, I am creating so much joy, hope and gratitude not only for them but for myself.
Yes, giving to others is actually a gift to yourself, a gift that keeps on giving because that one small action just may be the defining moment in that person’s life, the moment they decide that they are worthy and that their life has hope because if we have hope we can hang on just a bit longer, we begin to believe in our future, we can begin to believe in ourselves. It may be our kinds words, actions, or moments of caring that turn that beautiful soul’s life around. Knowing that we can all change the world for the better through one small thing is a feeling like no other. Being of service one small action at a time is a goal anyone can accomplish. Being of service builds our feelings of hope, self-love, and pure joy and isn’t that what we all need in our lives? Is that not a worthy New Year’s Resolution or even perhaps a New Year’s Revolution, all coming together for the common good of others?
Often the sadness of what is going on just seems too overwhelming and we see no hope and feel we do not have the power to change that but, WE CAN ALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE, every last one of us. So that is what I decided to do, create a list of small things to remind myself and others that there are many, many things that we can all do, small things that will in turn create a huge ripple of change especially when carried out by a passionate group of like-minded people. This is a goal we can all achieve, and this is a goal that will help all of us create a year of hope and happiness in 2021.
Spread love everywhere you go,
Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.
Mother Teresa
SMALL WAYS TO BE OF SERVICE
*Wave at your neighbor or a stranger, they will likely wave back with a strange or perhaps a happy, surprised look on their face.
*Buy a small bundle of flowers and then put them into a young mom’s shopping cart just because you know that parenting is a struggle sometimes. I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples. MT
*Give someone your shopping cart because they like you at some time, may have forgotten their coin or do not have one or simply need that coin that is in your cart.
*Drop a nice card in someone’s mailbox with a word of encouragement, gratitude, or simple kindness.
*Buy that coffee for a stranger.
*Throw a few extra toiletries into your shopping cart and donate them. Love cannot remain by itself-it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that action is service. MT
*Open the door for someone, a simple act that reminds them that they matter.
*Call a friend just to check in. Yes, with an actual phone.
*Text a compliment to someone or just a few words of encouragement to let them know they are not alone. The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved. MT
*Offer to shovel your neighbor’s driveway or just do it while they are away.
*Ask someone how they are doing and then make eye contact and really listen to what they have to say. We all have five minutes to listen.
*Bake cookies for your neighbor with curbside delivery.
*If you read a great book drop it off in someone else’s mailbox for them to enjoy.
*Fill a small gift bag with a bath bomb, magazine and chocolate and give it to someone who may be going through a rough patch or struggle of some sort, or perhaps just a friend to remind them that they are amazing.
*Drop off a meal for a family. If you can’t feed 100 people, then just feed one. MT
*Pop a handwritten letter in the mailbox to an old friend or just someone you know of that needs your kind words right now.
*Invite someone to go on a walk with you (socially distanced of course) to enjoy each other’s company, some fresh air and the beauty of the great outdoors.
*Offer your children’s or your own gently used clothing to a family in need.
*Leave cards/letters with encouraging words at a senior’s home. Share a story about your family with them or even a funny story about your pet. It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving. MT
*Buy a hot chocolate for your local gas station attendant.
*Walk your neighbor’s garbage or recycle bin into their yard for them.
*Send a surprise email to a teacher, frontline worker, or a person in your community/workplace/family to thank them for all they are doing to help us move forward in our new normal.
*Take a box of non-perishables to the foodbank or local church.
*Tell a young person working at a restaurant or retail store how much you appreciate their pleasant attitude. Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier. MT
*Clean out your closet and donate it to a women’s shelter.
*Take the time to tell a new mom what a great job she is doing. Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. MT
*Buy a few bundles of men’s socks or toiletries and donate them to a cold weather shelter.
*Offer to read a book to someone who is in a home or quarantined via your phone or through Zoom.
*Drop a word-search, magazine, box of tea, flowers, or a puzzle off for an elderly neighbor or anyone who has been staying at home alone due to Covid.
*…………………………….
Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.
Mother Teresa
So that dear friends, is my start to following through on my New Year’s Resolution of being of service one small action at a time. It is my hope that you too will find many small ways to be of service in 2021 because in doing those small things we can all be a part of the huge ripple of positive change, not only for others but for ourselves.
So, cheers to you and an amazing 2021.
Always Believe,
You are Amazing!
Tammie
P.S.
It is also my goal to create a PDF list of at least 52 small ways to be of service that I can share with all of you, to be shared with your community, because wouldn’t it be fantastic to be a part of the ripple of positive change for 2021? So, I humbly ask that if you have other ideas for ways to be of service (which I know you do because YOU ARE AMAZING), that you share those with me via email or message me on Facebook and I will use all of the ideas to create a list to be shared with all of you and anyone else who would like to take a small pebble and create a huge ripple. YES. WE. CAN. Because, TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER! 2021 BRING IT ON!!!
tammie.leonard@yahoo.ca Facebook.com/tammie lee Instagram@tammie_leonard
Thank you!!!