Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. A time when families come together for good food and fellowship. Families try to put aside their differences and count the things in their lives that truly matter. They reminiscence about Grandma's cooking or that one dish someone brought last year that was terrible. The days usually end in light laughter, happy smiles and full tummies.

For some, however, the holidays are a reminder of the loss they have endured. Reminiscing about loved ones alone can make what was once a holiday celebration, feel like losing them all over again. We all know someone who is alone on the holidays. Maybe it's an older couple, maybe a young lady who has lost her parents, or an older gentleman who lost his wife. Who ever it is in your life, inviting them over to spend the holidays with your family will not only give them reasons to give thanks, but will give you many reasons to count your blessings this holiday season.

Giving Circles- A New Trend In Charity

There is a growing trend among people that give regularly to charity called giving circles. Believing in the power of numbers, giving circles allow a larger group of people to give to one charity at a time. This allows for larger amounts of donations reaching the causes that need them most. Here is how it works,  a large group of individuals pool their money, then donate the lump sum to the selected charity. Giving circles have raised 88 million dollars since 2004 for well deserving charities. Giving circles are organized groups with committees that make decisions on who receives the funds for the year. With each member of the circle donating a predetermined amount per year, the commitees know just how much money they will be able to donate. If you are interested in joining a giving circle you can log on to givingcircles.org to find a group in your area.

Compassion In Every Day Life

On this blog, I like to feature stories of selfless giving, sympathy towards others and incredible acts of kindness. Today, I thought I would take a step back and look for acts of compassion in my own life. Has there been any instances of selflessness shown to me that never made the headlines or pages of a magazine? There was one instance that came to my mind right away. Six months after I got engaged to my husband, he was laid off from his job. The wedding date was very close and plans were already made with the caterer, florist, etc. We made a tough decision to postpone the wedding until things were better for us financially. As I told a good friend the news, she was very saddened. The next day she presented an invitation to me. As I opened it, I was in shock. It was an invitation to my wedding! She had volunteered to plan, organize and host my wedding in her large backyard. Her husband built a deck for the wedding party stage. She aranged for all of our close friends to bring a dish so we did not have to pay a caterer. Her husband video taped the entire wedding free of charge for us. She made beautiful decorations and made sure my wedding day was all that I had dreamed. When I think of my wedding day, I treasure the compassion and kindness my friend showed me that day. Let us know if you have been shown selfless compassion by someone during a difficult time. We would love to hear how you have been helped by others.

A Great Sacrifice For A Fellow Coworker

In the Sept. 21st issue of Woman's World Magazine, I read a very touching story of sympathy, sacrifice and kindness. With the ongoing economic downturn many have lost thier jobs or have been laid off. The same was true for Mike and Lori Champ. Mike was a computer technician at the Governor's School For The Arts. Mike knew layoffs were coming and feared the worse because he was a father of four children, one with severe autism. He truly needed to keep his job so his son could continue receiving the benefits of their health insurance that came along with his job. Mike and his wife were feeling hopeless about their upcoming situation. Little did they know they had a guardian angel named Ralph. Ralph also worked at the School For The Arts and loved to hear the stories about the progress Mike's son Aaron was making in therapy. He also was aware that because of his seniority, he was probably safe from a layoff but Mike was not. Doing the unthinkable, Ralph marched into the office of their boss and asked if he could be layed off instead of Mike. He knew that Mike and his family needed the security of the job more than he did. When Mike came in the next day, he saw Ralph clearing out his desk. He asked him why and Ralph told him that he asked if he could be let go instead of him. Although in shock, Mike could not be more grateful by the sacrifice Ralph had made for his family. Aaron could continued to blossom in his therapy because of their new family hero. What a wonderful act of kindness Ralph and his family made for a fellow coworker. Ralph and Mike continue to be good friends today.

A Playground From The Heart

(photo: http://www.possibilityplayground.com/)

This blog is all about helping others through compassion, sympathy, empathy and kindness. We plan to post stories of kindness as we find them in the news, online or elsewhere. Today's story is about Mardy McGarry who dreamed of builiding a playground for kids with special needs. As McGarry witnessed special needs children being left out of playtime because of equipment not meant for special needs, she began to research play equipment that would be compatible with wheel chairs. She was shocked to learn that a third of her town would gather together and support her mission. Small businesses, and families began pitching in what they could including lumber and supplies for the playground. On the first day of construction McGarry said the site looked like an anthill with so many people there to lend their time and money to make her dream a reality. Today, Possibility Playground is the most popular in her town of Ozaukee County. The playground consists of a giant rocking pirate ship, low rings, monkey bars, a climbing wall and lighthouse that all children can enjoy. McGarry states that she is so happy to see disabled and nondisabled children playing together shoulder to shoulder. What a great example of people coming together for a common good. Childhood is precious and with the help of all who donated their resources, it is even more precious to these special children and their families.

Offering Sympathy During The Holidays

Summer has passed and winter is just around the corner. With the approaching holiday season comes heartache and grief for some people. Those that have lost loved ones will be celebrating their first holiday season without their spouse, friend or family member. No doubt, this will be a very difficult time for them. How can you offer your sympathy and support during the season that is supposed to bring them joy? The truth is, you cannot bring them joy because of their profound pain but you can be the shoulder they may need to cry on or the listening ear they need to get through the holidays. Be sure to send a heartfelt letter, photos of family and friends or a sympathy gift that will offer comfort and encouragement. To find out more ways to offer your support during the holiday season click here for more tips and suggestions.

Acts Of Kindness From Strangers

I picked up my newest addition of Women's World Magazine and found a great section they are including called "Helping Each Other." This week's story was about Charlie's House. Charlie is a 20 year-old disabled man that was born with Cerebral Palsy. Living an independant life would have been impossible for Charlie without a specially equipped house that included ramps, low light switches and wheel in bath tubs. Charlie's mom almost gave up on her son's dream of being independant because of the high cost of a special home until perfect strangers offered to build Charlie's house. Today, Charlie's house boasts residents like Charlie that would not otherwise be able to live independantly. Because of the generosity of strangers these men have the hope of living like other 20 year-olds, hanging out and watching the game on their big screen T.V. What blessings all the people who helped build this dream home have brought Charlie, his mother and this community. Giving to others in their time of need brings joy to both the giver and the receiver. If you know of anyone who has benefited from the kindness of strangers, please post here. We would love to here your stories of compassion and generosity.

Offering Your Sympathy In Tough Times

Sympathy can take on many forms. It can be in the form of a sympathy gift basket, a heartwarming letter or a heartfelt phone call. Showing sympathy during these difficult times can be for many reasons including the death of a loved one, a lost home, the death of a pet, tragic accident or even a grim diagnosis. During difficult times, those we love need to know they are not alone. They need to be reminded that others care about their well being and will be there when times get tough. Showing sympathy and empathy is not always an easy thing to do. Sometimes we may feel awkward because words do not come easy for us. This blog discusses many ways we can help each other show care, concern and sympathy to others that are close to us or even across the globe. If someone has shown sympathy to you, post about it here. It may help someone else show sympathy to individuals in need.