Chronicles of This Mama

It’s hard in a world as crazy as ours to raise good humans. There are choices every day that can lead our children down the wrong path. We have to hope that the people they’re surrounded by are also good people. One of the focal points of our parenting is to make sure our little ones know the difference between being a good person and acting like a good person. There are plenty of people who act good but when no one is looking they aren’t the same person. It’s easy to pretend to be good but it takes a lot of work to actually be a good person. To put in the work to help those around you, to have a positive impact.

I want my kids to BE good. To DO good. It starts at a young age, volunteering to coach, help in a classroom, giving food to a homeless person, donating extra blankets and clothes. These are the types of good that I think really make an impact in the community around you. These acts matter. Showing our children how to do these things, having them help do these things, this is what will help set future generations up for success. We need a world of people who know what actions to take, know how to help others, and how to have the ability to brainstorm to find new solutions. We don’t need people who sit back and waste their time and only act when called upon. We need givers and lovers, those with the soft kindness to truly mean the acts they’re performing.

Hubs and I have innate callings to help our communities. We started early to ensure our children would inherit some of the pride in helping, some of the love for giving back. I came from a family who were “bikers” in their own right. They started a club of a bunch of middle aged people in our community who spent their weekends building houses with habitat for humanity, riding in food drives, or doing poker runs that raised money for local shelters. Giving back can be fun and it should be. The glow you inherit when making a difference is a glow from within. A glow that doesn’t fade quickly and that shows the light within your heart.

I’ve watched so many people just sit and witness those around them struggling. They only want to help on their terms, in the way that makes them most comfortable but that’s not truly giving back or helping. In order to really help people you need to meet them where they are; ask what they need (back to brainstorming), and know how to act on those needs. You need to understand that many won’t ask for help so you should be prepared to observe and see what might actually help. When you’re helping others it’s really not about you and I think that’s where things get lost most often. It’s about hearing, listening, watching, truly trying to understand how you can make a difference in lives outside of your own. People are often so self absorbed that they can’t see beyond themselves and will make excuses so that they appear to have offered to help but truly had no intention of helping. That’s what needs to change – what some people get entirely wrong.

Do me a favor – do something kind. Help someone today. Meet them where they are, listen, and really try to help.