With the frenetic season of giving and receiving far behind us, many choose this time of year to make changes and resolutions to be a better person going forward. Here are some tips on how to be our best self.
To some, transforming into a better version of themselves can mean losing weight and getting fit, or not hitting the snooze button six times, or calling their family more than once a month. While all of those resolutions are admirable, we have discovered how there is deeper personal growth when we focus on impacting those around us.
We here at Leeloo believe in pursuing with laser focus what matters in life and as traders we understand how important financial success is, but its pursuit never overpowers our responsibilities towards the community.
There appears to be a simple antidote to fighting the 'contagion' of feeling low after the lunacy of recent times: giving to others makes YOU feel good.
The joy of helping, blessing and gifting is much more rewarding than that of receiving and giving does not have to stop just because the holiday season is over – we at Leeloo make it our top priority to carry it on all year!
It most certainly feels good, especially in these deeply uncertain times, so why not do it all year and get that warm, tingly feeling every day?
That’s a lot of potential happiness we’re missing out on if we just donate/give/do good for a couple of weeks each year!
Here we show you how we have decided to leave our mark as best we can.
How to practise generosity
Giving doesn’t always have to involve financial or even big gestures; small, meaningful actions like calling a single friend or relative to ask them about their day, sharing a happy memory, offering to help, or smiling at a passer by… all go a long way to making someone’s day that little bit brighter.
And when you see the smile on their faces because of what you did? That’s a reward like no other.
However, you may feel overwhelmed with all the suffering in the world and not know where to start – don’t worry, you’re not alone!
There are opportunities for us all to help those who are suffering, just start small, pick a cause or person that you really care about and start there.
Find manageable ways to support them little and often, whether it’s with a monthly donation or something like a small food haul for the local shelter, or doing an eldery neighbor’s shopping.
How Team Leeloo is helping others
Team Leeloo is humbled to be able to support some local and international causes close to our hearts:
- Our local ‘Backpacker Program’ does a wonderful job providing food to school children whose weekend's meals are questionable.
- ‘Toys for Tots’ lovingly delivers for underprivileged children toys at Christmas
- The local food program helps sustain families in need of food
- And the Roundup School’s reading program, counseling and mental health services are dear to our hearts for the contribution to the community.
Our special project this year was via Heifer International, through whom you can gift life-savers like goats, to underpriviledged families in Africa who can then use their byproducts such as cheese to provide for the family.
One of our staff, we feel, has really raised the bar for the rest of our crew. Residing in the U.S., but having previously spent time in West Africa assisting refugees, he finds joy in sponsoring children there.
He now helps Fatmata, from Sierra Leone, and contributes to her school and living expenses.
This Christmas past, our generous staff member also spent time with an elderly friend who suffers from severe PTSD and lives alone. “I have so much to be thankful for, it was quite a pleasure”, he says.
Be a better person, be a kinder person
The world around you will reflect like a mirror whichever image you project on it. Kindness does not cost! Even on the rare occasions when you have to go out of your way and be kind to a broken mirror.
Why not try doing little random acts of kindness throughout the year and not just in the holiday season? Keep in mind peace and kindness, and love will flow from within.
And lastly, don’t forget to be kind to yourself, too.
Here are some kindness inspirational quotes to help you on your way
“Kindness costs nothing but means everything”
“Happiness is the new rich, inner peace is the new success, health is the new wealth, kindness is the new cool” – Sayed Balkhi
“Kindness is helping the world, one person at a time” – RAKtivist
Date for your diary: February 14-20 is Random Acts of Kindness Week, Wednesday Feb 17th is Random Acts of Kindness Day… what will your random act of kindness be?
Written by Kate Hammaren, Freelance Writer and Editor