Did you watch some football this week? Crazy stuff happening with Alabama AND Miami losing right before the college football playoffs. Maybe you got to enjoy a nice Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends while you got a day or two off from work. Best of all, you’re probably picking and choosing a bunch of great items on sale this Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend. All is good.
I love stuff as much as anyone. I probably have 10 times as many tech gadgets as the average person. I know I’m fortunate. I have fantastic parents who gave me every opportunity to succeed. I also have a great job at a biotech here in San Diego that takes care of me with more than I need. I have fantastic friends and family spread across the country. I’m blessed. I’m also blessed where I get to write as a hobby to tens of thousands of readers who come to deTeched each month, where a year ago we just got off the ground with absolutely no following. deTeched has come a long way and I’m very thankful. I’m blessed with great fortune.
So it comes upon me to hopefully inspire just one of you readers who are fortunate like me, to consider putting down your credit card for that TV, smartphone, Bluetooth speaker or headphones this Cyber Monday, and consider doing something for someone or something that isn’t so fortunate. Chances are slim that this op-ed will do anything to dissuade the vast majority to give instead of buying something you don’t really need, but I do have faith that maybe one of you will do something kind for a good cause. It’s really not hard to do something kind. Heat up your leftovers and distribute them to the homeless. The homeless are people too – and no they’re not dangerous. They need love and kindness just like everyone else and a warm meal will feed them, but in all honesty, it will do you some good too. Go through your closest and find gently used clothes that you could donate to them. Chances are high your closet is full of stuff you’re not wearing anymore. Just try it and see you’ll see it will probably give you more feelings and emotion of goodness than that discounted TV will do for you.
Look for veterans in need. Those great men and women fought for our freedom, the least we can do to show our gratitude is to take care of them. Adopt a family who doesn’t have the means to buy their children gifts for Christmas. Sponsor a pet to be taken care of rather than be put to sleep. Donate to those in Florida, Texas, California and Puerto Rico who are recovering from the hurricanes and wildfires that ravaged their 2017. Maybe sponsor your child’s school’s STEM program to build more scientists, programmers and engineers for the future. Donate to the American Cancer Society in hopes your contributions will help eradicate one of the worst diseases on the planet. Maybe you don’t have extra money to give, but you have time. Sign up to be a mentor as a big brother or big sister to a child that needs a little joy and love in their lives. There are thousands of ways to take care and give back to something greater than a discounted gadget, piece of clothing or other tangible item that will eventually be pushed to the side for something better next year.
Instead of focusing on things you don’t really need, consider giving to causes with actual needs. I hope you find your inspiration to so something kind for someone else this holiday season.
Maybe these videos below will be good for a little inspiration.