We’re almost 1/3 of the way through the Just For Today Challenge – 31 Days To A Better You. How are you doing so far? I hope you are committed as much as I am to making it throughout the entire month and completing all 31 Challenges. I know that we can do it!

For Day 21 of the Just For Today Challenge – 31 Days To A Better You we will be charitable to other people Just For Today.

There are so many people in the world today who have had nothing to eat or drink today. Families who have no shelter and don’t even have bathrooms - that puts things into perspective, doesn’t it? If you are reading this article, it means that you have a computer, internet connection, money to pay for both, plus I can almost guarantee that you ate 3 square meals today and will be laying your head down in a nice comfy, warm and dry bed.

It’s so easy to fall into the trap of believing that our problems are so HUGE and that no one can understand the struggles that we go through each day. What a crock!

Our petty little problems are NOTHING compared to what’s happening right now all over the world, but particularly the crisis happening in Haiti. Already one of the poorest countries in the world, the earthquake that occurred on January 12th has devastated an impoverished nation and it’s people.

Every charitable act is a stepping stone towards heaven. – Henry Ward Beecher

For that reason and also for the reason that it feels good to give to others, today is “Be Charitable To Others Day” here at A Meaningful Existence.

What does that mean?

It means that you can go and visit the numerous charities listed on the CBC site for Haitian relief: http://www.cbc.ca/haitirelief/ and donate money to the Haitian people. Just a couple of the charities that are highly recommended are the Doctors Without Borders/ Madecins Sans Frontiares (MSF) and the United Nations World Food Programme. There are so many worthwhile charities that will put your money to good use in Haiti. I can’t even imagine the daily horrors that the Haitian survivors are living through. I’m sure the pictures on CNN are showing only a small portion of the reality that is happening there.

How many texts do you normally send a day? Probably a few, if you are like most people. How about showing your charity by sending a text from your cell phone to: 90999 with the text of “Haiti” so that you will have donated $10 automatically to the American Red Cross for direct aid to the crisis in Haiti. If you prefer, you can go to the Canadian Red Cross site and donate through the many channels offered there.

Let’s think of those less fortunate than ourselves today.

Besides the people in Haiti, how else can you be charitable to others today?

How about giving money to that homeless person that you pass by every day on the way to work? Yes, there’s a chance that your money won’t be used to buy food, but there is also a very good chance that your $5 to that person means that they could get something hot to eat at least once today. Try to give people the benefit of the doubt when helping them. You have no idea of their circumstances and many homeless people are doing the best they can with what they have. We are not here to judge others.

If you would rather give to your local charity, then do that. Give to the Salvation Army or to Goodwill or to your local Church. Monies that are currently going to Haiti mean that those causes that the charity would normally support will be getting less as the money is diverted to the larger crisis. Help them any way that you can.

Did you complete Day 17 of the Challenge by going through your STUFF? Is that box full of STUFF still sitting where you put it? Call up a local organization and donate your STUFF to those who will use it and appreciate it.

How about lending a helping hand to an elderly neighbour? Can you do something Just For Today that would make a difference in their day? Or a single mother who is struggling? How can you help her and lessen her burden for one day?

Can you call up an organization like Habit for Humanity to arrange a day to volunteer your time and skills? If you can’t donate money, your time can be just as valuable to many organizations who require volunteers to help them fulfill many roles.

Are your cupboards overflowing? Go through them and see what you can donate to the local food bank. They are always happy to receive donated food stuff and the food goes to feed local people in need.

It doesn’t take much to make a difference.

What have you done today to show your charity to others? What are you planning on doing? Let us know by leaving a comment below. Thanks!

For a list of all of the Challenges, see the Just For Today Challenge page.

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Tagged as: Charity, Giving, Just For Today Challenge