There are times when it is tough to come up with a new idea to write about. It’s not because I have covered everything that I want to talk about. Sometimes it is the opposite, there are so many things to talk about I have trouble just focusing on one thing. Other times, I just need to settle my mind and try to think about why I am having trouble focusing. After some time, I think I know why I am unsettled today.
On this past weekend, we had the honor and privilege to run in a fundraising event. It was Run For Refugees. It was a 5 or 10km run and we went to support the efforts to help acclimate refugees to our area. When we were all done, and we were starting to “refuel” we were told about some of the areas that these families were coming from and some of their hardships. Funny how the press doesn’t cover how truly awful their situations really are.
Something as basic as the fact that pictures of some people cannot be shared on the internet because there are actually certain groups of people scouring the internet for pictures of people who are trying to help. When they get pictures, these people are then threatened, beaten, tortured, killed, or even the people that were being helped are killed.
It’s a pretty awful world out there sometimes.
Then, I am quite sure that the natural disasters are not going unnoticed. Hurricanes, and earthquakes, fires, and floods. Sometimes whining about my world is just so petty. But, it’s the world we live in. How do we just continue on without being totally overwhelmed by it all?
I truly think that we are not supposed to just carry on. We are supposed to be moved by the burdens of other people. It’s called empathy. Without it, nobody would get help when they need it. The key is to find the balance and go from there. We can choose to be overwhelmed by the awful things in this world. Or, we can choose to make helping others part of ‘our’ world.
You don’t have to look far to find someone in need. There are some really great organizations out there and there are some truly great small groups and some fantastic large groups. I have touched on this topic before, Workout for a Cause and the list of places in need grows daily.
So when you get overwhelmed with hearing about yet another cancer diagnosis, another natural disaster, another business collapsing, it is then, that you start thinking about how you can make helping others part of your world.
- When money is not available to give away, donate time.
- When you don’t have time to donate, give away a service.
- If you don’t have a service to offer, ask how you can help, and be prepared to listen with your heart.
People in need, need all kinds of things that may not occur to you, but that is because you are not in their shoes. Sometimes it is the little things that we can do to help that makes all the difference.
If you are truly wanting to make our world just a little bit better, you will need to give a little piece of yourself in some way. Be prepared to actually listen to what is needed but also make sure that you have found a group that really speaks to you. There is a group needing help in nearly every aspect of the world.
So, do what you can to make yourself healthy enough to be a help.
Keep your mind, body, and soul strong so that you are able to be the help to those who need you.
When you're in a position to have gotten so much, the gift at this point is giving back. – Paul Stanley
