Giving back in a small way

"Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach. Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely. It is not given to us to know which acts or by whom, will cause the critical mass to tip toward an enduring good.

What is needed for dramatic change is an accumulation of acts, adding, adding to, adding more, continuing. We know that it does not take everyone on earth to bring justice and peace, but only a small, determined group who will not give up during the first, second, or hundredth gale.

One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. Soul on deck shines like gold in dark times. The light of the soul throws sparks, can send up flares, builds signal fires, causes proper matters to catch fire. To display the lantern of soul in shadowy times like these – to be fierce and to show mercy toward others; both are acts of immense bravery and greatest necessity.

Struggling souls catch light from other souls who are fully lit and willing to show it. If you would help to calm the tumult, this is one of the strongest things you can do.” 

-  Clarissa Pinkola Estes

We had a full Thanksgiving weekend.   I signed out a laboring patient early on Thursday morning and we joined a few other families (friends of ours) to volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul, which provides food for low-income and/or unhoused residents in Eureka.  With the pandemic and everything, the kids had never participated in an opportunity like this, and I think their eyes were opened by serving those less fortunate for a hot Thanksgiving meal.

The kids were in charge of decorating cupcakes (and all did a fantastic job not licking their fingers while doing so!)

We lined up with our gloves to serve desserts at the dessert table.

Alas, I took zero photos, but for our meal, we were invited over to the home of the Darts, friends nearby in McKinleyville and enjoyed a true Thanksgiving feast with turkey, stuffing, casseroles, veggies, pie, and more.   The kids, very close in age and good friends, entertained themselves all afternoon, including with some front-yard football, bobbing for apples, and hide and seek. It was a great time connecting with local friends and enjoying some lovely fall weather and conversation. 

Happy Thanksgiving!