It’s that season, and by the overflow of print advertisement, and radio and television commercials you’d have to be living under a rock to not know it is holiday gift buying time. If you’re like me, you have a group of friends who love to exchange inexpensive presents. I usually struggle with these purchases, because it’s hard to pick out a quality gift of $10 or less.
Let me solve all your token gift problems: donate in your friend’s honor to Meals On Wheels and More. Don’t buy that blinged out compact mirror and matching nail file holder. Put the coffee mug with the funny saying back on the store shelf. Spend your $10 in the most meaningful way, by celebrating your friend with a contribution that translates to five full meals for a fellow Austinite. Yes, five. When was the last time you fed five people a nutritionally balanced, delicious meal for $10?
I’ve been a meal delivery volunteer for 10 years for MOWAM. When I first volunteered, I thought I was helping other people. Like many who understand the true nature of philanthropy, I came to realize that although I was assisting others by handing them food, I was the one benefitting from the service. My grand idea of being a noble and selfless person disappeared as I came to realize that I was exactly where I needed to be to learn, grow and change. My point of view was altered. I am not simply a meal delivery volunteer. I’m fostering community, engaging oh so active minds in high spirited conversation, and learning that life is not about service, but about enjoyment. And sometimes it isn’t about food at all, but about walking into a gentlemanly senior’s home and being danced around the kitchen for the sheer joy of music and movement, of being alive and living fully in the moment.
This holiday season I’m participating in the Snap Kitchen #21DaysForGood challenge, and working on three goals for myself. One is to become physically healthier, by eating nutritionally dense, delicious food. That goal has been a no brainer, as I’ve indulged in all kinds of delectable meals from Snap Kitchen, and have increased my energy and sense of well being while losing a few pounds. My second goal is to increase my nutrition knowledge, learn more about the ingredients in the foods I normally eat. On this journey, I’m reading more labels, and looking up words I don’t know the meaning of, like propyl – gallate. I’m shocked at how much sodium I unknowingly consume. Although I know that products need a shelf-life, I’m appalled at how many additives are in our foods.
My third goal is mindful eating: to be aware that the food on my fork had a journey of its own, from farm or ranch to store or restaurant, transforming from a single item into a symphony of flavors as part of my meal. I witness this in action at Meals on Wheels when I pick up my delivery. The kitchen receives ingredients from various sources, and starting at 4am on most days, fires up the ovens and stoves and begins preparing fresh meals for clients. I’m merely the conveyance by which the meal is transferred to its intended diner, a cog in the wheel of nourishing others. You can fuel the engine that turns the wheel by donating during this holiday season.
I have one final #21DaysForGood goal. If I’m deemed the winner of the challenge, I’ll be honored with a $3,000 donation to Meals on Wheels in my name. I’m hoping that by sharing my quest with you through blog posts, tweets, Facebook status updates, and Instagram photos that you’ll be inspired to delve deeper into a meaningful holiday, a healthier one, where kindness and compassion is esteemed not only for friends and family in your life, but for yourself as well. I have dreamed of being able to donate a large sum to MOWAM, usually after I buy a Lotto ticket and indulge in the “what if” fantasy. If I win this challenge, that fantasy would be a reality. At MOWAM, $3K translates into 1,200 meals to be served. One thousand and two hundred! Can you help? Let me know if you have been motivated by my journey, in comments below, tweets or Facebook posts, and use the hashtag #21DaysForGood.
