Find Your Something

I recently read a Facebook post written by someone who is passionate about animal rescue.

He encouraged people to, in his words, "find [your] something."  He mentioned ad hoc groups of people who have found their something by making cat toys, blankets for dogs and cats in shelters, and coats for animals. A group of photographers found its something by taking quality pictures of animals available for adoption to make them look their best to potential adopters who view them online.

The author encouraged individuals to find their something that will allow them to help in a way that is meaningful to them. Not everybody can pull animals from kennels to be sent to rescue groups. Seeing so many animals waiting for new homes, new families to love them is too heartbreaking for some people. But nearly everyone has a skill that can be put to use helping animals and the organizations that care for them. Some organizations need people with legal skills, or who can handle their accounting needs. Can you walk dogs to give them a short break from their kennels? Can you work with undersocialized animals so they become more comfortable around people? Perhaps you can organize a pet food drive where you work, or in your family. Sometimes children will ask that guests to their birthday party bring donations of pet food for a local shelter, rather than gifts for the birthday boy or girl. And their is always a need for foster homes to care for animals until they are adopted.

You might also find your something in helping other people. Hold a holiday food drive to collect non-perishable food items for a local food bank or pantry. Collect gently used coats, gloves, boots and hats to donate to a homeless shelter. How about a toy drive for Toys for Tots so underprivileged kids can enjoy a nice Christmas? Maybe you would like to volunteer at a food pantry. I did that on a weekly basis for 2 years, and it was extremely rewarding.

When I lived in Houston, I belonged to a church that had a Christians in Action group that performed acts of charity for those in the community. People were invited to 'adopt' a family in need and purchase items, including an aluminum roasting pan, for a complete Thanksgiving dinner. We did something similar for Christmas. Anybody in the church who wanted to participate was asked to take a wish list off a tree and purchase the item/s for that person. I remember how good it felt to buy these items, knowing they would brighten the holiday for a family or child. Fortunately, the church made it easy for us to "find our something."

My something now is my photography. Not only does it bring me great joy, but all the proceeds from sales of my calendars and prints are donated to the Elephant Crisis Fund to help protect the elephants that are so important to me. Helping elephants is my something.

It's a great feeling when we find our something. Each of us has a talent or a passion. It's up to us to find that something and put it to good use.