Pay It Forward
These days, the Christmas season seems to get portrayed as all about 24 hour shopping, Cyber Monday Madness, and making sure we have more Christmas presents under the tree than last year.
Society makes it way too easy to forget the true meaning of Christmas. We so easily become consumed with pop culture telling us that if we don't camp out in front of Harvey Norman and get that flat screen TV, well then, we might as well sleep through December 25th.
But my question is this: Since when did we need to 'buy' love for or from the very people that already love us unconditionally? And why can't showing someone how much they mean to us consist of quality conversation and random acts of kindness...rather than topping last years Christmas gift with an even more extravagant one this year?
I too have been there, getting all caught up in this materialistic version of past Christmas's, when I know deep down it should be about spending time with those I love most and giving to others less fortunate than me.
If you too are ready to stop being swept up in the shallow shopping frenzy then here’s a project designed to shift our focus from what society tells us Christmas should be all about....to what the true meaning of Christmas really is about....
and that is the spirit of giving.
The 12 Gifts of Christmas
Disclaimer: The 12 Gifts of Christmas was designed to help us focus on what truly matters and get in the spirit of giving that Christmas was meant to inspire. Here are 12 thoughts on how each of us do one random act of kindness. Simple as that. Don't limit yourself to just these ideas, but feel free to be creative as well.
I am hoping this encourages everyone to live out the true meaning of Christmas. I believe with all my heart that it will transform countless lives for the better. In fact, I'm even going to go as far as to say that it will most likely be those of us that are participating that end up being impacted more than the individuals we are actually doing the favors for. It's amazing how giving to others changes our focus from "me" to the overwhelming needs of our world.
Anyway, thank you in advance for participating!!! Merry Christmas to each of you! I hope you have as much fun with this as I have had creating it.
The Gifts
GIFT 1 🥪
Buy or make food for a homeless person (or someone in need). This does not have to be expensive. $5 should cover lunch.
GIFT 2 💌 📨
Write a kind, hand-written letter to someone that changed your life for the better. And no, I'm not talking about an email or a text...I'm talking about snail mail people. 😁
(This can be to a childhood friend, a teacher from the past, or even an old baby-sitter that impacted your life for the better.)
GIFT 3 ☕
Pay for the person's order in line behind you in either the coffee drive-thru, fast food, a tollbooth, train ticket, etc. (There are a LOT of options here...)
GIFT 4 🛒
Put grocery carts away in a random parking lot for other shoppers or find carts that others have left behind. It will help the employees out by bringing them indoors where they belong.
GIFT 5 📨
Write a letter of thanks to your local favorite business, firehouse or your child's school /daycare.
GIFT 6 🥧
Bake extra Christmas goodies and share with your neighbors. You may know them well, you may have never even introduced yourself. So here's your chance 😉
GIFT 7 ⛽
Buy a $5 or $10 gift card for a grocery store, petrol station, coffee place, etc. Leave the gift card on a random park bench or windshield of someone's car.
GIFT 8 👴🏽
Do something kind for the elderly. This can be anything from helping them to their car with heavy groceries, holding the door open for them, or volunteering at a retirement home.
GIFT 9 🅿️
Tape coins to a parking machine. So simple, yet so convenient! I honestly cannot count how many times I could not dig up that last coin for parking.
GIFT 10 💁🏽♀️
Leave a generous tip for a server, barista, or bartender--along with a nice note. This will most likely make their night. Having been in all three of these positions, I know how challenging the service industry can be and how easy it is to get discouraged . This could turn their entire day around!
GIFT 11 🎁
Purchase a gift card at a local grocery store (of any amount). Turn around in line, and hand it to the first person you see. Then walk away. No explanation is needed. I'm sure their expression will say it all.
GIFT 12 💭
YOUR turn to choose a random act of kindness. I thought it would be fun to see the different ideas everybody comes up with for this last day before Christmas. Be creative. The sky is the limit!
Share your Kindness
I hope these ideas will inspire you to get out there and participate. Think of how many lives we have the potential to change by getting together and all of us doing one random act of kindness. I can't even imagine how many people will be impacted by our selfless actions.
If you wish to join us un this Pay-It-Forward journey please share your story of how you paid it forward and tag us on socials, or email it to us here.
