50+ Lifestyles

Season of Giving

By Courtyard Estates of Walcott

Often we hear of the holidays as “the season of giving.” In the hustle and bustle of the holidays it can be easy to forget that there is more to giving than boxes, bows, tags and shopping bags.

The best kind of giving is from the heart, not the store. The best people to give to is those in need, more so than those we love. There are so many people in need in our country and throughout the world that a small simple act of giving can make a drastic change in another’s life.

The holiday season is a time filled with opportunities for giving locally, nationally and internationally. A gift of time can mean as much or more to someone as money. Make a visit to your local hospital and read Christmas stories in their pediatric unit. Go to a local nursing home and volunteer your time to lead a craft project. Stop by a nearby Assisted Living community and lead a group of carolers. Volunteer to be a bell ringer for the Salvation Army as a family for an afternoon. Often investing your time and talents is the most valuable contribution you can make.

There are ways to give gifts that don’t cost money. Instead of selling items at a garage sale or on e-bay donate them. Check with your local women’s or homeless shelters; they are often in need of old furniture, clothes or blankets. You can donate items from your kitchen cupboard to the local food pantry and toys to non-profit preschool programs.

Everyday we share the gift of love with those closest to us, but we don’t stop everyday to share the simple gifts of kindness to strangers. Imagine the world without these simple gifts. The best gifts don’t need to be opened.