Reflecting on This Season of Giving

The designation of this day as #GivingTuesday has inspired a new blog post on “Reflecting on Reflecting”, upending layers of current-year dust which has been accumulating on the blog.

Today my email inbox screams, “It’s Giving Tuesday.”

My learned response to such subject headings: Give, but give mindfully. Give meaningfully. Give based on my values. Give based on need. Give to support others or support causes which have touched those on my mind right now.

There are many causes that meet that criteria (see above: screaming email inbox).

Giving is high on my own list of values. Just looking over the topics on this blog, for example, I notice over one-quarter of blog posts have been partially or entirely about reflecting on giving, giving back, and taking actions for others, including Reflecting on the Season of Giving (from this time of year, two years ago) Reflecting on Doing Good, Writing Letters to Fight Social Isolation, and Reflecting and Taking Action.

This year in particular, I have decided that my approach to charitable donations, particularly on a day (and a season) that stresses giving, will be an approach guided by reflection, meaning, and critical thinking. I have added ‘critical thinking’ in my own decision-making guide because some of the causes I support more generally may currently not be fully in alignment with my own values and priorities.

This year I am asking myself the following questions:

1. Does this cause directly address a need that is a high priority to me (or those I care about) right now?

2. Will this donation be received with appreciation by the recipient, and/ or will my message of support for this cause be heard?

3. Looking back on this day/ season/ moment in time, will I feel like I have taken a meaningful action by this donation?

If the answer to these three questions is a resounding yes, I will be donating today or during this season.

Taking a few moments to record the questions I am asking myself right now has been useful for me, and perhaps can help others wade through their own inboxes and inform or inspire mindful decisions. Writing this has also helped make my decision concrete that from now through the holiday season, I am donating all proceeds of all journals to a cause that represents what the Write.Reflect.Grow community values, funding a journaling workshop for charity in the new year. More on this to come!

Writing letters to fight social isolation (and COVID-19)

Greetings and wishes for health and wellness to all!

While this is not a post I had anticipated writing, this is what is currently on my mind.

I’m writing about something we can all do right now, an action that does good, on multiple levels, for ourselves and for others. It is a healthy and engaging activity for ALL ages (while we are hunkered down at-home). Additionally, it is an activity that can help recover from the impact of COVID-19 too. Read on to see how.

I am referring to the act of writing a letter to mail to someone. What many refer to as the “lost art” of letter-writing. On the one hand, if we look around us (well, around us online), we may see many of the “lost arts” making a resurgence in this time of social isolation. The lost art of sewing. Of baking bread. Of vegetable gardening. One of the benefits of being asked to slow down is that we can connect with these activities which do lend themselves to mindfulness and reflection.

Your call to action: Write a letter to someone else. Just because.

Benefits of writing a letter, right now:

How is the act of writing a letter good for you and others?

• Writing letters is a way to stay connected and even build or strengthen relationships with anyone in the world, whether thousands of miles away or around the corner.

• Writing a letter generates excitement. The excitement of receiving and opening a letter that arrives just for YOU (please wash your hands after).

• Writing a letter can promote a host of positive emotions. Knowing you are doing something positive for someone else is also a feel-good for you!

• Writing a letter is an activity for you or anyone else in your home who might be in need of something a little different.

• A letter can then become keepsake or memento of this period of time.

• Writing a letter is an opportunity for self-expression and perhaps reflection on the times. Or anything you want to write about.

How can the act of writing a letter be good for the world at present?

Simply put, when you write a letter on a greeting card that we have created for the Things You Can Do Today campaign, 100% of proceeds will go directly to assist in recovery efforts from Coronavirus. We have created a set of 4 original 5x7 cards and envelopes. The charity we have chosen is 4-CT, Connecticut COVID-19 Charity Connection to move funds to where they are most needed now to fight this deadly virus.

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Why did we create this set of greeting cards?

Because we want to do something to help improve the current state of affairs while also encouraging positivity and connection and tapping into our own creativity.

How can you obtain a set of greeting cards?

We have created a series of daily actions which are designed to inspire and light a spark within you. To purchase, order your set of cards here. While you are waiting for your order to arrive, think about who you’ll write to! And if you are looking for some other reflective activities to do during this time, we invite you to check out these journaling resources and tools to help work through an emerging idea.

What to do once you receive your set of cards?

1) Write letters.

2) Mail them.

3) See what happens after you do. Did you receive a return letter? How was this experience for you? We’d love to hear!

May this endeavor become a rewarding and enjoyable activity that directly does some good for the world!

Best,

Marni Amsellem, Ph.D.

Founder, Write. Reflect. Grow.