In light of the holiday season, we hope that you embrace these cost-free ways to give to those who need it most by the lovely Jiji Chai.
Below are her top-10 suggestions:
Acceptance –
Convey acceptance of someone’s belief or opinion even when they are different from yours. Trying to prove a point to someone who is not open to the idea can be very stressful. You will earn the respect you want by giving the person his right to be different.
Break Time –
Someone who spends most of his time caring for others would appreciate a time off for himself. When it is in your power to do so, give a caregiver a break. You will see a more productive person with renewed strength and interest.
Companionship –
Just being there for someone to talk to and share some happy memories with can lift a lonely soul. Your presence is a valuable gift, especially to someone who doesn’t have much interaction with others.
Encouragement –
A reassuring nod, a squeeze of the hand and a pat on the back are all gestures that convey encouragement. You wouldn’t know what it means to someone who was about to give up but decided to make it through because of these gestures or your words of encouragement. Your gift of encouragement can make a lot of difference.
Helping Hand –
You can anticipate a need and give a helping hand to someone who expects it the least. It can be a big surprise that will be remembered more than anything wrapped in a box with a ribbon.
Hug –
A good warm hug, also known as a handshake from the heart, can give a sense of safety and build trust. It is known to lower stress hormones and decrease heart rate. It is recommended to get at least 8 hugs a day. It is a gift you can give and can benefit from at the same time.
Phone Call –
Distance is bridged with a simple phone call especially during an event when your presence isn’t just possible. In this modern time, a phone or a video call is a gift of technology that helps connect people to each other. Make use of this gift to let loved ones know how much you care.
Smile –
A smile costs nothing but gives so much. It enriches those who give it, and benefits those who receive it. It takes but a moment, yet the memory of it could last forever. No one is so rich that he can get along without it, and no one so poor that he cannot be made richer by it. It creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business, and is the cornerstone of friendship. It is rest for the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and nature’s best antidote for trouble. It cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something of no earthly good to anybody till it is given away. If someone is too tired to give you a smile, then leave one of yours with them. No one needs a smile so much as he who has none to give. – Anonymous Author
Time –
Love is spelled T-I-M-E. The quality time you engage with someone shows how much you value his presence in your life. It is a gift you can be generous with and not regret how much you spend.
Visit –
Visit with a purpose to lift someone’s burden is always welcome. Bringing a warm dish to a new mom who just gave birth speaks a thousand words of well-wishes a congratulatory card cannot contain. A visit to parents to take them out for errands or a simple dine out will always be treasured in their memory.
This holiday season, think of ways you can give with a special touch of generosity from the heart. Your gift has more meaning to those who need it most when they can see not just the monetary value but the effort you invest to come up with it.
– Jiji Chai
Jiji Chai is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing-Registered Nurse by profession, wife of a Physical Therapist and a mom of three wonderful children. She has worked as a nurse in various health-care settings and has met people from different walks of life. She is a WOW author and WELLNESS coach. She authored the program Walk On WELLNESS, Wow Your Way To Health. She enjoys documenting life events, putting her thoughts into words and sharing with others lessons she has learned along life’s journey. She likes to learn from and inspire others to grow to the fullest potential there is possible.
