If you never give back, then now is the time to step up and quit hating on yourself and us

I've been known to stand up on my soapbox and shout about inumerable topics. Especially this time of year when I always get thinking about others: those in need, those who help those in need and just those who need a little extra love and encouragement. Heck, I personally fall into all three categories. We all do if you think about it hard enough.

So I wanted to shout out to a few orgs and peeps that I feel do a great job taking care of all of us this time of year:

Union Gospel Mission in Seattle
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Treehouse
Seattle Police Department
King County Sherrif Department
Seattle Fire Deparment

It doesn't take a lot of effort or money to help another person, bring a smile to the face of someone who needs a smile, to make a difference.

Try it on. Try it twice. Try it every day between now and Xmas. Try it for eight days in a row and light some candles. Just don't not try it.

Haters go hate. Me, I'm going to help.

CLOW

Stand up and act

Short list:

1. Kids need our love and support. Without coaches, they will be lost. When lost, they might wander off. 

Victims

Pacman Jones

Lawrence Phillips

Tank Johnson

Josh Hamilton

Amy Winehouse

Kurt Cobain

Columbine

Solutions

Boys & Girls Clubs

Big Brothers/Big Sisters

Treehouse

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

2. If you think of others, and more specifically, help others, the net effect is you will help yourself.

3. By serving yourself only (you, your immediate family, your immediate concentric circle of influence), your life will be mildly rich, rewarding and succesful. Great people leave a legacy that affects others beyond their own.

4. We live in the finest nation in all the land. Take care of her, love her, cherish her, celebrate her. We are all from a different land, but have been blessed with the ability to live, procreate, and establish our own footprints in these United States. Stand up and sing the national anthem. Take off your hat. Thank a veteran on Veterans Day. Memorialize a veteran or a group of veterans on Memorial Day. When you come across a serviceman or woman, say thinks, wish them luck and with pride, SMILE. They need that. You would too.

5. Love yourself. If you don't you will never love anyone else as well as you are able to. And the "others" in your life need your love. So train yourself, on yourself, and don't be afraid to recognize what is best in you. I see it. You should.

CLOW