Five ways to give back this year
This column is part of an occasional series about how you, too, can make a difference. It is written by the head of our partner organization , which helps people give and volunteer in more than 100 countries.
It鈥檚 a clean slate! As author and motivational speaker Les Brown says, 鈥淵ou are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.鈥�
Many of us are inspired to live better, cleaner, more positive lives. A lot of us have created New Year鈥檚 resolutions, although some of us have a simple, general resolution, such as being 鈥渢he best you鈥� that you can be. As Mr. Brown encourages us, it鈥檚 never too late to be a new you.
With that in mind, here are five ways to give back in the new year.
Shop in your closet. Yes, it鈥檚 time. You keep thinking that you鈥檙e going to wear that shirt or that sweater. So either do it, or gather such items up and give them away.
Please note: You will be giving not only to others, but also to yourself. After paring down your closet, you鈥檒l be able to find your clothes and decide on outfits more quickly. Meanwhile, your clothes will be helping someone else present themselves in a better way, personally and professionally.
Give yourself a trip abroad. Have you wanted to go somewhere exotic, but felt guilty about spending the money? Don鈥檛 feel guilty anymore. Visit Vietnam and do some sightseeing, and then tag on a volunteer trip!
For example, you can volunteer in Vietnam with . Share your skills and heart in orphanages, disability centers, and schools in the capital, Hanoi.
Remember, volunteering is life-changing. Be prepared that when you return from your trip, your life won鈥檛 be the same. You may be more moved to help others live a simpler life and to give back even more.
Support women-led businesses. Such ventures often take a lot of courage to start and maintain. Look up a women-led business in your community today and patronize it.
One example is in San Francisco: Farmgirl Flowers, which was started by Christina Stembel. It sends out 1,200 to 1,400 flower arrangements a day; every month, it donates to nongovernmental organizations.
When you support a women-led business, you support women models for the younger generations to come.
Be an extreme volunteer. Many of you have done one-day volunteer projects. But have you thought about being an 鈥渆xtreme volunteer鈥�? That means a weekly commitment to helping someone in serious need.
One option is serving as a CASA volunteer (the acronym is for the national organization Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children). You train to be a legal advocate for a foster-care youth who needs extra support. He or she might need to be encouraged in education, protected from a neighbor, or simply listened to. Volunteering for three to five hours a week may be the most consistent presence one of these youths has.
Give back to yourself. While I鈥檝e talked about ways you can give to others, giving back to yourself is important to keep yourself reenergized.
Some people need downtime watching a football game. Others would like to leave work early and spend more time with their children. Some people pray or meditate. The point is, you have to do something that will allow you to breathe and attain peace. Then, go back into the world to be your best self.
Live a new life by giving back in fresh and different ways. I hope this column has given you some good ideas for 2018 that will make your life vibrant and filled with joy.
鈥� Pamela Hawley is the founder and chief executive officer of . She is a recipient of the Jefferson Award 鈥� the Nobel Prize of community service. She also writes the blog 鈥�.鈥�
