Susan Cox
I’m admiring the orange and yellow leaves on the trees and noticing the varying patterns of branches on the trees that have already lost their leaves on a morning walk when I round the corner and see the full moon shining brightly above the treetops. My heavy mood lightens as I keep eyeing the moon while I continue walking through my neighborhood.
Basking in the beauty of nature helps me deal with all the negative news, my frustration with the dysfunction in politics, and the stress of figuring out how to get everything done I need to do. I usually manage to prioritize my to do list and take care of the essentials, but I have a harder time knowing how to channel my worries about the world and my political frustrations into anything meaningful. I can’t change government policies or fix economic disparities.
Since I can’t control the big things, maybe I can just focus on small things that can have a positive impact like enjoying nature does for my mood. I can donate to Love Chapel, Turning Point, the Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund, or United Way to help those in need. I can watch movies at Yes Cinema and purchase concessions to support the Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center. I can support local businesses. I’ve started buying any books I’d like from Viewpoint Books instead of from big online retailers. The Saturday after Thanksgiving is Small Business Saturday and a good time to patronize those stores.
To combat all the negative news, I look for news about positive things. I follow Upworthy on social media since they share stories of regular people doing kind things for others. I’ve been cheered by some recent local efforts too. For example, First Presbyterian Church helped abolish $1.78 million in medical debt for individuals in Bartholomew, Brown, and Jackson counties. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church partnered with Lillian Schmitt Elementary to provide space for a personal items pantry for students of the school and their families. The Bartholomew Consolidated School Foundation used grant money from Cummins to wipeout negative cafeteria balances for students across the district. These efforts remind me that caring people are everywhere.
I’ve also been impressed by my niece. She has a son with leukemia and after a recent weekend staying at her local children’s hospital with her son she decided to collect donations for the Ronald McDonald family area at the hospital. She appreciates the amenities offered (food, a place to shower, etc.) and while she can’t eradicate childhood cancer, she can ease the challenge of dealing with it for other families.
Being grateful is another way I try to lighten my mood. I keep a gratitude journal where I write down one thing each day that I’m thankful for. Some days I can think of multiple things to record, but other days I struggle. I do always find something I appreciate even if it’s just something small. Sharing your gratitude with others can be a way to care for them and to lighten their moods.
With Thanksgiving approaching, I encourage you to find things to be grateful for, to share that gratitude, and perhaps find a small way to care for others. I’m setting aside money to donate on Giving Tuesday, and I’ll be sending a note of appreciation to my niece soon. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy the vibrant red of the burning bushes that line the banks of the creek behind my house.
