Ideas of positive actions

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.
 Sir Winston Churchill
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 The photo from Roy’s artwork that I am sharing in this blog helped me to reflect on something I will do during this Lenten season. My intention is to gather with the grandkids and tell them about my childhood. Life was quite different 78 years ago. We did not have the distraction of electronics that now seems to take up so much of everyone’s free time. I know they will think I must have lived in prehistoric times when I tell them how I amused myself before television. Our family did not get our first television until I was 9 years old.  Our weekends were spent visiting family. These visits were typically done around the table for a noontime meal. Conversations were about what was going on in their lives and the lives of relatives who weren’t there. This noontime meal went on for three or four hours. I was blessed to know my great grandparents who were immigrants of Italy and lived on a farm. When they arrived in the United States, they purchased land and started their farm in a rural area. It happened to be Harahan that is now a residential community where we have lived since we were married 52 years ago. 

I love celebrations in life and feel blessed to have been born in a city that offers unlimited opportunities to participate in year-long celebrations. We have just ended the month-long Mardi Gras celebration. It was great gathering with family and friends as we viewed parades. I am now ready to delve into the Christian tradition of the Season of Lent. This is a great time to add a few disciplines into our life and to review our goals that we intended to accomplish when we celebrated the beginning of the new year. 

As a child growing up Catholic, I was taught that Lent was a good time to give up something. That idea has greatly expanded and now includes the positive action approach of doing something helpful or beneficial for yourself and others. One suggestion is to introduce something new into our life like exercising three days a week, reading spiritual and inspirational articles, attending a personal growth lecture or workshop. Perhaps the commitment could be to visit family or friends we have not had the time to be with in quite a while. A great aspect about the 40-day Lenten Season is there are many others who are participating in this season with us and can support our intentions. 

Here are a few ideas for positive actions that will enrich your Lenten Season. 

• ·        Visit a  family member that may be in a hospital or nursing home.
• ·        Many older people live alone and can no longer drive. Offer to take them to the grocery or drugstore or perhaps just offer to pick up a few items they may need.
• ·        Pay it forward each week of Lent. This can be done in small ways like paying for the next person’s coffee or pick-up meal.
• ·        With our busy schedules we may have missed a friend’s or family member’s birthday. Invite them to lunch and surprise them by picking up the tab. Include a cupcake or birthday dessert. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Your thoughtfulness will be greatly appreciated!
• ·         Start a book club with a few friends and have everyone read a spiritual or inspirational book. Meet bi-weekly or monthly to discuss the positive messages and how each of your lives are being affected.
• ·         Gather with family or friends and discuss your childhood experience and beliefs that were passed on to you. Our friend Peggy wrote a book Tell Me Your Soul Story that is available at Amazon. It is an excellent tool to use in developing a sense of connection to everyone on this journey of life .

You may want to share your plans for this Lenten Season with my readers. You can make a positive difference in your world and the world around you.