The holiday season is officially upon us. It’s Hanukkah, and Christmas is now only a couple of weeks away. I love the winter holidays and the feelings of joy that they bring, but turning on the news, I almost lose sight of the season. There is nothing but bad news and sad stories in the media, making it difficult to carry any sort of holiday spirit. I think it’s important to charish this time of year, so this blog post is about good deeds.
I firmly believe that every good deed will eventually come back to you – often in an even bigger way. That’s not to say that you should only do a good deed in the hopes of receiving something in return, but I do believe that karma will come back to you in some form or another.
So this holiday season, I ask all of you to look back on your year and take a moment to appreciate how lucky you are in the life and gifts you’ve received. Now take a moment to think of someone else in your life – or maybe a complete stranger – that could use some help. It could be as simple as a few kind words or as generous as donating your time or money. Think about doing something, no matter how big or small for someone else. I did just that this past week and was immediately rewarded for my actions in an unexpected way.
I was invited to attend a local charity event last week, and although I wasn’t quite feeling up to an evening out, I still went. My community has supported my gallery for the last 20+ years, so when I am invited to a fundraiser, I try my best to arrive and support them in any way possible. This event was similar to many others, but the entrance fee was optional. You could either make a donation at the door, or you could simply join in on the food and fun. I chose to donate, and in turn received a raffle ticket.
After a fantastic evening of socializing over amazing food, they announced it was time to draw the winning raffle. I had completely forgotten about the ticket in my pocket, but wouldn’t you know, I won. I certainly wasn’t looking to win, but winning a prize, and a very generous one at that, reminded me that giving truly does come back to you. I was at the event to support my community, but in the end, I received more than I had given. And not just the prize, but the evening spent meeting new friends and reconnecting with others was worth much more than the donation I made.
No matter what your situation, I think everyone can afford to give something. Whether it be through your time, money or actions, we can all help someone else in some way. So this holiday, I encourage you all to find some way to help. The good fortune you share will most likely spread, and might even find its way back to you!
Happy holidays!
-Aaron