New Year - Times Square
I think it was the loudest collective sigh heard ‘round the world as the big crystal ball dropped in Times Square New Year’s Eve… and if we didn’t say it out loud we were thinking it… “Whew, I’m glad 2009 is over!!!” And I hear it over and over again from everyone I meet. Let’s face it, 2009 was a nasty year. You either lost a third of your savings, lost your job, or have a family member or friend who did. We’ve watched our country’s economy crumble, our sons and daughters go off to war, the near-end of the auto industry and witnessed record number property foreclosures. The list goes on and on.
As we’ve discussed before, there’s Beauty in Adversity. When things are the worst we have an opportunity to be our best. 2009 was bad, but it was a wake-up call for us all. Much that happened certainly was out of our control, but as we look back there definitely are signs of apathy, indifference, and perhaps even taking our circumstances for granted. Now forced to pare down to the essentials, we become lean and efficient. (And yes, I’m speaking metaphorically, considering I still haven’t shed the 40 pounds I vowed to lose in 2009)
I believe we see this New Year with a renewed perspective. As times have toughened we’ve pulled our families closer. More of us are re-examining our politics and making our voices heard. Priorities have most definitely been shifted and in many instances faith renewed. And where there’s faith… there’s hope.
Many of the churches in our community are encouraging and inspiring creative ways to assist those in need: offering to pay the toll for the car in line behind you on the freeway or the groceries for someone else in line with you, doubling the gratuity for your server or just making a point to share your abundance with others.
Lately the news has been full of stories of random acts of kindness taking place all across our country. During the holidays a number of successful entrepreneurs made a point to walk up to strangers in need and hand them hundreds of dollars from “Santa”. The word spread and the number of “Secret Santas” grew.
CBS Sunday Morning told Dafna Michelson is traveling America putting together a collection of stories of ordinary people who do extraordinary deeds.
Dafna Michelson writing stories of hope
Funded by cashing in her own 401(k), she’s traveling the US visiting one state a week. “I definitely didn’t know how incredible of a country it was, but at the core I knew we were made up of really good people,” she said. People like the Arizona crime-fighting housewife . . . the Oklahoma man who helps troubled boys . . .a software engineer who developed a music program for a school using unused musical instruments donated by volunteers.
See the need, answer the call, and give someone hope… Happy New Year!
Posted by:Linda Hawkinson
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes, I agree and it’s a challenge to all of us to do what we can… what we must. I only wish that our press spent more time sharing these stories of exceptional efforts. I think It would be a real encouragement. Just before Christmas, FOX network interviewed an elementary school age boy who collects toys for children every Christmas holiday. He literally fills his home with toys to give away. Awesome.
I love hearing stories like this. I have seen it multiple times on our local news. It is one good thing that has come out of the bad…the way more people are helping others.