Today, do something nice for someone you DON’T know! “Pay it forward” and stretch your own comfort zone. I know for me that true JOY is a reward of giving and it is even more exciting when it comes as a surprise and especially done in secret. Consider paying for someone’s coffee, lunch or grocery store items. How would you respond if someone came up to you out of the blue and gave you a local $5 gift card with a warm smile and told you to “pay it forward”? Or, driving up to the express food window, you find out that your meal was already paid for? The person handing you your food gives you a message from the car that just pulled out. You are blessed, now please bless someone else!
As the holiday season dwindles many find themselves in the throws of emotional turmoil and unhappiness. The weather is cold, the sky cloudy and the new year brings continuing financial woes. For some people, this time of year is not the most joyful. Old hurts and sorrows have arisen as colleagues, friends and families gathered in the last weeks for parties and reunions.
Many are the reasons that people become depressed and are often related to feelings of hurt, rejection and abandonment. Life’s traumas, like serous illness or death of a loved one, that happen during a holiday season constantly remind them of their loss. Reach out to those you see struggling, you may be their only lifesaver.
So, perhaps you can do something nice for someone you DO know!! Idaho ranks somewhere around eleventh in the nation for completed suicides. So many people feel hopeless and often what makes the difference is that one person who reached out “just at the right time” and showed a little kindness. Look for those who choose not to engage because they just may be falling into a deep pit of depression. Be especially concerned if they mention hurting themselves.
Our mission at Eagle Creek Family Medicine is to holistically treat you. This, of course, includes addressing physical, emotional, and mental needs but human beings are so much more! How you feel and what you think directly impact how you do physically and how you heal. More so, what you believe about who you are and why you are here on this earth has an equal if not stronger influence on your wellbeing.
“A cheerful heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit makes one sick.” Proverbs 17:22 (NLV).
It is common to forget that we are spiritual beings. We get lost in the “have to do” list and don’t pay attention to our spiritual health. Studies show that people who have a belief in God tend to be less stressed, recover better from illness and have a general sense of peace. We, in the healing field, see this all the time.
So, consider doing an experiment! Try to “Pay it Forward” to someone today and perhaps even tomorrow. See how your days goes. We wish you a joyful 2012.