What does giving have to do with thankfulness?

Here at True Balance Karate, our social emotional learning program is called True Character.

Every month, we have a word of the month. This month, we’re talking about thankfulness. Thankfulness means: “I’m glad for all I have.”

Sharing with others

We’re now entering into our season of giving, and what does giving actually have to do with thankfulness? Well, when we give to others, we’re showing others that we care and appreciate them.

We’re sharing all that we have, because we’re so thankful for what we have that we’re willing to share some of it too. If we’re thankful and truly thankful for all the food that we have, we can donate some food to a food pantry. We can share some of that thankfulness with others.

When we’re thankful for all the toys that we have, we can donate some of our toys to different charities.

We can bring them to Goodwill. We can drop them off at a resale shop. We can donate new toys to Toys for Tots. They’re doing a collection right now.

We can donate our toys and show that, “you know what, I am so thankful for all the toys that I have that I’m actually willing to go out and give some to others.”

Donating to charities

We can show we’re thankful by donating to charities.

We don’t feel like we need to have more money. We’re happy with what we have. And we’re actually so thankful for what we have that we want to share a little bit of that with others. We don’t have to share a lot, but we can all share a little bit and really try to help out others in need.

We can show we’re thankful that we can work and we can work and help donate food. For instance, we can work in a soup kitchen — a place where they’re helping to feed people.

We can show thankfulness for our pets by helping out in a shelter. We can donate some food for the puppies or the cats to show our thankfulness that they’re around in the world.

Wanting more things

So in this time of year that we’re coming into, now that it’s November, we can tend to get into a period of “give me, what do I want? What gifts do I want? Oh, look at all the commercials. Look at all this stuff. Look at all these new things I want to get.”

But we don’t want to get caught up in the “I want to.”

We don’t want to get caught up in the “I need” and “I got to have”. We want to make sure that deep in our heart, we’re really actually thankful for what we have.

Oh sure, I’d like to have some new things. Yeah, new toys are nice, but I’m really thankful for what I have. Matter of fact, I’m so thankful for what I have, I want to give it a little bit to others.

Thankful for Sven

Do you want to know what I’m thankful for around here for? I’m thankful that while I’m here doing these videos, talking to you, I have my friend Sven right here watching me — not creepy at all — and making sure that I’m giving the lessons nice.

And occasionally you’ll see him out in class watching you too.

So, thank you, Sven, for being an awesome person standing there and helping us out with all these character programs.

Sven says, “you’re welcome.”

Being thankful

Remember, thankfulness is not just something that you do. It’s something that you are.

You want to have thankfulness on your heart. You want to have an attitude of gratitude.

You want to look for those times where you can be thankful, like sitting down at dinner, or when you go to bed, or maybe when you’re getting ready for school in the morning.

You want to make sure that you reach out to all those people in your life that you’re thankful for and show them those signs of thankfulness — send them a card, send them letter, send them a message, share your talents.

If you play an instrument, record a little bit of your playing an instrument and send that to Grandma. Show her that you’re thankful she’s there.

You can show your thankfulness by donating to charities, by giving a little bit extra of what you have.

There are all kinds of ways we can show our thankfulness in the world. Let’s make sure that we keep that a major part of what these seasons are and a big part of who we are.

Thanks. And we’ll see you out on the mat.
– Master Helsdon