This Covid-19 Year has Sucked; But What a Great Time to Start Giving Again

I think the general consensus about the year 2020 for which most will agree is this; It’s been a “sucky” sort of year.

The fact they’re only a few days left in this year weirdly offers a shared sense of anticipated relief. Most people are ready to chalk this year up as one for the history books. Eager to move swiftly into better days ahead.

Even though what the future will actually bring is questionable at best. At least a new year offers a brand new canvass on which to hope, plan, and prepare as best we can for a better new year. And I don’t know about you. But I am here for it.

On Giving During the Holidays

Although I’ve gracefully moved away from the hustle and bustle of the commercialized holiday season. Meaning, I don’t have a long list of presents to buy. Nor people who expect to receive gifts. Especially now that our children are older and cold hard cash is their gift of preference for every occasion these days.

So when people ask “Are you done with your Christmas shopping”, it always catches me off guard. The answer is always, yes. Since I don’t do much Christmas shopping. And wouldn’t be caught dead at a Black Friday sale. As if in that state I could control my whereabouts. But I digress.

Yesterday, much to my chagrin. I had the desire to do something I haven’t done for years. I then decided to act on it. In a heat of the moment type of decision. While out shopping to purchase the one item I’d went to the store to buy. I decided to get a small gift for each of my neighbors in our cul-de-sac.

When we first moved into the neighborhood over 16 years ago. I wasn’t the one to wait around for my neighbors to knock on the door offering tasty “Welcome to the neighborhood” cookies. I made it a point to take the initiative to go out and meet my new neighbors. At least the ones in the cul-de-sac.

This was easy to do considering our children had beat us to the punch and had made fast friends with their children. It was the beginning of many years of our children growing and playing together out in the middle of the street. Where every parent could see them right through our front windows. This is one of the reasons we purchased a home in a cul-de-sac.

During our first year on the block during the holiday season and for many years to come. I purchased bottles of Welch’s Sparkling Juice as gifts for our neighbors. I figured this was a family-friendly gift that everyone could enjoy. For me, it was a simple way to say “Thanks for being a good neighbor” all year round. The holiday season seemed to be a perfect time to do it each year.

I did it consistently for the first 5 years. After that, it was more sporadic. It was not that my neighbors were no longer “good neighbors”. But in the thick of raising our children with all the time and monetary demands required. The neighborly gift-giving slipped further and further down on my priority list.

The years came and went with quick waves replacing conversations we use to have with our neighbors. It was like the popular meme “ain’t nobody got time for that” had become true for all of us.

Although many years have passed. And some neighbors have come in gone. Our cul-de-sac is still occupied by good neighbors. Families like our own who have weathered the terrain of this incredible “sucky” COVID-19 year.

So I figured what better time than the present to start giving again. I was genuinely excited this morning while bagging up all the bottles of Welche’s Sparkling Juice for our neighbors to enjoy. Being the COVID-19 year that it is. I’d decided I would hang the bags on the door or place them right in front of the door so there wouldn’t be any contact.

It wasn’t important to me that they see me. I just wanted to do something to say “Thanks for being a good neighbor”. Shucks. Maybe sometime next year. We’ll even start having regular conversations again instead of the quick waves we’ve now become so accustomed to. Or maybe not. We’ll see.

Like I said earlier. Although most are hoping for a better 2021. None of us know for sure what the future will bring. But hey, it’ll be a new year. And with a new year, we’ll all have a brand new canvas on which to hope, plan, and prepare for the best.

Regardless of what happens. I’m already planning to give again next year. Because the truth is. Giving is liberating. And as American poet, memoirist, and civil right activist Maya Angelou says:

“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.”

After a year like 2020. My soul could use some liberation. How about you?

Until the next time…

Much Love & Peace,

CarlaDee