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Time To Spread Thanks, Giving

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By JACK LEVINE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 27, 2008

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, let's remember that the holiday's name is a compound word - Thanks and Giving. Take a few moments to consider these ideas for enhancing the celebration of Thanksgiving and the holiday season ahead.

Despite obvious challenges, each of us has much to be thankful for - our lives, families, friendships and work. Although there is no perfection in life, I hope you consider the glass more than half-full most of the time. Thanking those whom we love, admire, depend upon and have positive relationships with is an important - but too infrequently practiced - activity. Please say "thank you" more than a few times in the next few weeks.

Please share these Thanks-Giving thoughts with family, friends and colleagues as a gift from you to them.

1. Share with those with less. Consider the gift of one week's grocery bill donated to a community food bank, domestic violence or homeless shelter, foster parent or elder services association, or your United Way as a gesture of appreciation for what we have and what others do for the less-fortunate.

2. Express your gratitude in word and deed to those who care for others as a profession or as volunteers. Compliment the good works of caregivers for our children and frail elders. Those caring individuals who clean the bottoms of babies and the bed-ridden, and help nurture and stimulate their minds, deserve the kindnesses of family members and neighbors all though the year, but especially at holiday time.

3. Give time to a worthy cause. Our volunteer investments in "time philanthropy" builds community and creates a great example for our children. Spectatorism is relaxing, but our community's needs can be addressed, in part, by sharing our energy. Whether we choose to sing in a chorus, read to a toddler, mentor a youth or visit a lonely elder, our time is a priceless gift that appreciates in value.

4. Conserve energy resources by consuming less fuel, reusing and recycling. Native American culture considered our planet a parent, worthy of respect and protection. Our throw-away culture is feeding our landfills with trash, and our air and water absorb the residue of pollutants. Preserving our environment is self-preservation as well as a life-saving gift to wildlife, plant life and our children's children.

5. Slow down. Whether behind the steering wheel or in conversation with others, speed is not a good thing. Being in a perpetual hurry endangers our lives on the road and cuts short our relationships with others. Give yourself a few extra minutes in transit to be a safe driver and listen a bit longer to the words in conversation with loved ones and co-workers. Actively listen and show others that positive attention is a gift worth giving.

6. Put technology in its place. We live in a high-tech, low-touch culture, governed by the beeps, buzzes and blinking lights of technology. As time is compressed, stress grows. Immediate response raises expectations, reduces careful consideration and makes us more prone to error. Take a breather from all the numbing numbers and ask others to be considerate in public and private spaces by turning the "on" switch off. Our children need to know that our eye contact and voices are focused on their needs, too. The cell phone, pager and e-mail should not keep our loved ones on hold.

7. Advocate with assertion, not aggression. Free speech is not an invitation to be offensive. Responsible advocacy requires thoughtful purpose, practical solutions and open conversation. Clear and consistent communication with allies and adversaries alike sets the stage for progress. Advocacy is the heart-felt expression of a wrong to be righted, with composure and grace. An advocate's power is in persuasive and persistent articulation, and the recruitment of others to the cause.

8. Respect our elected officials for their service. While we say we believe in representative democracy, who among us is brave enough to run for public office? We don't have to agree with all of their actions, but we should respect their service and hold them accountable for their actions ... or lack of action. Silence is the antithesis of effectiveness in a democracy.

9. Health is a form of wealth. Making sure we eat right, exercise and take time to rest and relax are the keys to clear thinking and long-term effectiveness. Our bodies cannot support us unless our minds resolve to take care and be careful. Being healthy examples to our children in nutrition and behavior sends positive signals for their attitude and future actions.

10. Take optimism pills every morning ... the time-release kind. Negativity is contagious. Those who believe they will make a difference can achieve their goals. Pessimism is the mind's way of giving up before the first step is taken. Those who want to make change for the better in their lives, neighborhood and the world around them should stop whining. The power of one, multiplied and magnified, is the only proof-positive formula for success.

Holidays remind us that bridges across the generations are built upon the stanchions of memory. Those among us who recall the glow of candlelight reflecting the faces at our grandparents' table understand how vital heritage is for finding ourselves. For those whose childhoods were less than ideal, we have the opportunity to assist others to have a more joyous future.

As we plan for the holiday season, we should recognize that there are neighbors, young and old, whose weeks ahead will not be brimming with joy. We know there are people in need who can be helped if we choose to do so.

In honor of those who have been there for you when you needed them most, thank those who illuminate our paths, exemplify kindness, teach justice and nurture our futures. What a fitting tribute to the legacy of our ancestors and what a positive example for our children and grandchildren.

Jack Levine is founder of the 4Generations Institute.

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