September 23 - Help Others

Because I am active in a twelve step fellowship, I often equate helping others with twelfth step work, carrying the message of hope to those who might not know there's a way out. But, there are other ways to "help" others. I bake cookies and bring them to a meeting or a function. Members munch on the cookies and they talk amongst themselves. They like this kind of cookie or they don't like this type. They can't eat cookies because they are on a diet or worse, maybe they are diabetic. Whatever the case, they are talking to total strangers. This helps them come out of their shells. Or, I might be in a grocery store, and a senior might be trying to reach something on the top shelf. I might smile and reach up for the item, to give them help. Maybe the smile helps them more than the gesture of helping out. What few people realize is that by being able to help others, I myself am helped.