I'm Baaack


Ok, I officially suck at keeping up with this blog.

I think it is because I have so many different ones in different places.

I also write a blog called "The Weighting Game with Jess" on ivillage.com

And I have this one on my site!

And I am attempting to have one on My Space as well. So please, forgive me for my over-communicating and my procrastinating! HA!

So what can we say about Turkey Day and the end of the year?

It's a time when everyone will begin to open up their hearts a bit more, give to the homeless, maybe volunteer, say what's on their minds, make ammends, or tell someone they love them. But what about the other months of the year? When we are usually busy being...busy, anxious, jealous, fearful, hateful, competitive, and blind to those around us? Do we practice our 'holiday manners' year round? If not, we should.

I was at the grocery store yesterday picking up a few last minute Thanksgiving goodies before joining my sister to do some serious couch laying and grazing. We were going to enjoy a mellow Thanksgiving this year cause I have been traveling so much - we just wanted to chill and veg. So as I was getting out of my car a man approached me and asked for some change. I told him I'd rather buy him something to eat than give him money and I asked if he was hungry. His reply "oh, yes, ma'am."

So I asked him what he wanted - he wanted a sandwich and a snapple. So I said I would get that for him and be right out. When I was at the register paying for my groceries, the store manager warned me about giving the man outside anything since he begs in front of the store regularly. He also went on to tell me that he thought the man once lived in Beverly Hills and drove a Mercedes. None of this mattered to me because something had gotten to the point in this man's life that he was asking strangers for change in front of a grocery store. I thought the warnings of the manager were odd considering this was supposed to be the 'giving' time of year.

And then I must admit I had a bit of fear pop up for me as I wondered whether I was getting hosed my some con artist of a homeless man. And then the truth came forth. WHO CARES! My intention was to help someone who said they needed help. Who am I to judge his position or intention in receiving. I did what my heart said to do and that's what I focused on.

When I gave the man (his name was John) his food (with an extra bag of M and M's thrown in) he simply smiled and said "Thank you so much." I said "No problem, just pay it forward when you have the chance." and he said "I sure will."

And with that I will take him at his word.

I challenge all of us to challenge ourselves on why we give or how we give. And see if we can do better. I know I can.

Love and light,

Jess