I have asked so many people what they "need" for Christmas this year, and even though so many of our friends and family have faced tough times, most everyone I spoke with has answered, I don't need a thing! It had gotten to the point where each year we put so much effort into outdoing the previous years that I guess everyone I know has all they need so here is what I have been doing since Thanksgiving.
When in line at Starbucks to get a hot drink on my way to work....I buy the drink for the person behind me in line. One day I could see the driver in the vehicle behind me screaming and shouting at the person next to him (his spouse I think). I could tell from looking in my rear view mirror this was not a happy moment. So when I got to the drive through I told the clerk, please tell the gentleman behind me I am paying for his drink because he needs to have a break, take a chill and I hope I made his day a little better.
Yesterday I went to a Holiday Luncheon in the restaraunt was a large table of Air Force personel. I motioned the waiter over and asked them if I could pay for the lunches they had as part of my wanting to support our troops. The commanding officer at the table came over thanked me and let me know that he couldn't accept the gratituity but EVERY single one of those Air men and women thanked me for the though and were so grateful. I felt guilty because I hadn't been able to do anything other than my gesture let them know how important I think their jobs are, and I found out they were being deployed in 6 weeks to Afghanistan. I was able to wish each one of them a safe return. I was the one that got a gift.
Got back to the office, in my email I had gotten a special invite to be a guest at their base, and go through the flight simulator. I got the reward. Moral of the story...we have to much most of our kids, friends and family don't seem to REALLY need more trinkets, and glitzy gifts, but kindness never goes out of style so GIVE IT AWAY. You won't believe how awesome it makes you feel. Find someone and do something now, it is an amazing feeling.
Comments(1)