Notes From My Easel

There are a variety of definitions for the word ‘charity’.  Two of those definitions are:  “a generous action” and “something given to someone in need”.  Taking these two definitions to heart in their most literal translations this Christmas, I have decided that charity does begin at home, or at least close to home.

I’m not going to advocate that anyone fore-go their charitable donations or abandon their charitable work, but what if you cut back a bit, or took the money that you would have spent on something useless like, yet another, Christmas decoration and instead, found one or two people that you know and paid it forward to them.  It might be a relative down on their luck, a neighbor who is unemployed, a friend with a small business that is not doing so well right now.  What if you made them your charitable donation this year?  This does not mean that you have to humble them or make them feel worthless.  Think of all the little things that you could do for one or two other people: 

• -How about decorating the front of the neighbor’s house for Christmas?  If you are doing your own, just buy extra garlands and bows, etc and ask the neighbor to help you decorate your house and in return you will help decorate theirs with the ‘extra’ as you are sure that you bought too much. 
• -Get back to baking.  Go grocery shopping and take all of the ingredients over to a friends house and suggest that you both do all of your baking together and then just share the final products.
• -Maybe your relatives would really appreciate you bringing over a basket of baked goods or even some main dishes.  Suggest a get-together at their home and offer to purchase or make all of the food.
• -Just drop in on a friend with a lunch or dinner that you have made.
• -And almost all of us know some small business owner who may really be struggling.  What is it that they make or sell at their business?  Can you shop for your friends there?  Is it a service that has gift certificates?  Ask some of your acquaintances to purchase from this proprietor.  Do you have a different small business?  Can you cross market with them by having some of each of your stuff at each other’s place?
• -Or maybe you actually have more money than time.  An anonymous gift in the form of a money order can seem like a windfall to someone who is flat broke.

Maybe at some time in your life, someone once helped you.  They probably do not expect you to pay them back since the true spirit of giving asks for nothing in return.  What they would expect is your gratitude and the best way of showing this is to pay forward their generosity of spirit to someone else. 

So, imagine if everyone helped someone else this Christmas.  The economy might just get a little better and we may discover the true meaning of the words charity and community.  You might just find that you have become a better person for ‘paying it forward’ this Christmas.

Enjoy all the wonders of this season,

Kathryn

www.kathrynsmith.ca     www.hamiltonartist.com