you can make difference.

I mean it, honestly and sincerely. Sometimes I'm in my bed and I start thinking of the people in the world that are truly starving or shivering in that very moment and my heart is broken into a million pieces. We have so much to be thankful for. The hot water that runs out of the faucet, the cabinets full of food, the closet bursting--literally of clothes. We have so much. The very clean air that you are breathing right now is a true gift.
So what do we do? When we imagine the people hurting, cold, lonely all over the world it is overwhelming. I also think of the people I read about that are neighborhood heroes, or world heroes and I think how do they do it? How do they have the means or the time??? I admire those people who say, I'm not going to let one more day go by, today I'm going to make a difference.

Kindness. We--all of us are going through tough times, it seems every check that comes in goes out. So kindness is a wonderful way to make a difference. How can you be kind today? Smile at someone at the bank, the drive through, or a stranger walking down the street. Say Thank you if you see someone cleaning a public bathroom. Have extra food from a meal, give it to someone as you come out of the restaurant who may not have a meal. Kindness can be so simple and so powerful.

This holiday season I hear a lot about toy drives, coat drives, ect, ect, ect...which are amazing and I'm so thankful there will be toys and warm coats for those who with out these drives would have nothing. I am so thankful, they will have their Christmas. What happens after though?

Right now I am working on a small project to help those in need after the Holidays. I want to make a difference. I may not have much but my 'not much' is a lot more than some of the people have who live right in my city. It's still in the works, but I want to make difference.

We don't have to be a neighborhood or world hero with huge acts to make a difference, but we can be a house hero simply by loving the people closest to us, like our family and working our way out to our neighbors and community.

** other small acts of kindness
buy a coffee or hot chocolate for the people who ring the salvation army bells at the mall
bake cookies and give them to your neighbor
call a friend you haven't talked to in awhile to say hello
tell your family why you appreciate them

small acts, make a difference. go ahead, make a difference and at the end of the day when you're in your bed, smile knowing you've accomplished something wonderful, you've given the gift of kindness.