Lifting Others
Dear Aspen reader,
November is the month often associated with gratitude and thankfulness. It sounds great, right? Doing for others and volunteering or lending a helping hand. It seems as if the opportunities are endless when it comes to volunteer work or chances to give to the local community. And that doesn’t even take into account the family members and friends to whom we give our time.
But have you ever had a moment in which you felt down and out, exhausted and/or the need to be lifted up? I think we’ve all been there. It’s as if the gas tank is empty and there is nothing left but fumes. Sometimes it gets exhausting as we continually pour ourselves out to others, am I right? Self-care seems so unattainable as we give all our time and mental resources. We are left feeling depleted and unable to offer any care to ourselves.
But what if the need we have, is not to have someone else lift us up? Might we actually need to change our perspective when giving of ourselves to others?
When we give of ourselves to others (within healthy boundaries) what impact does that have on the other person? And what effect does that have on each of us? Maybe it isn’t about doing something for someone with the expectation that the favor will be returned. Maybe it isn’t about offering your time and then, later on, feeling like you missed out on an important activity because of where you chose to spend your time.
Isn’t it true that as we give with a gracious heart to others in a time of need, we often leave the scenario feeling more fulfilled than when we started? This is where I often find myself struggling. Being so far away from family, I’m not allowed the opportunity to support their needs as I would like or offer a helping hand. But that’s why a local community is so important. My ways of lifting others may not look like yours, but let me offer a few suggestions to how you can lift others up:
Bring a meal to a family in need - maybe post-surgery, after a new baby etc.
Offer a welcome basket to a new family in the neighborhood.
Write a few thank you notes to a landlord, a yard worker, mail delivery person etc. expressing your gratitude.
Spark a conversation with a stranger at the grocery store who looks as if he/she may need help.
And there are other ways too! This is your chance to be creative and give your time so that others will be lifted up in their time of need. Just be careful not to spread yourself too thin to the point where all of your time is directed towards others, not allowing any time for rest because that’s important too! After awhile, you’ll find yourself being lifted - without even having to put effort towards your own well-being. It’s a win-win!
In health,
