Thanks for giving - Margaret Nelson Column in the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript

Is it possible to be too grateful? Can we overdo thankfulness this November? I don’t think it’s possible.

 

Gratitude sets straight so much in our lives. A thankful mindset makes us realize we’re not in this alone. I come from solid Yankee stock. We pride ourselves in not needing help from anybody but this attitude isolates and discourages when we really need help. Thankfulness reminds us we’re part of a community. We don’t have to go it alone.

And a thankful spirit releases generosity. I am particularly touched by individuals who have been helped through The River Center and want to give back in some way either financially or by volunteering. An example comes to mind of the couple who had their tax return done for free who made a donation in folded bills in appreciation for this service. The parent who is so grateful for the parenting support they have received that they are volunteering to clean at The River Center. So many times, people who have given to The River Center this year have told me “I’ve been so fortunate, so blessed, I wanted to give back.” 

 

The current economic problems can easily get us in a spiral of dwelling on what we lack, what’s gone wrong, who to blame. What a great thing to have a national holiday this month that allows us time to stop and think of the good that’s come to us this year and focus our energy toward gratitude.

 

So, I want to say, Thanks for giving. Thanks for giving to The River Center this past year. Thank you for giving your time by reading to the children in our children’s program, by bringing new sand for our sand box, for vacuuming our carpets, for organizing our kitchen shelves, for answering the phones during our staff meetings. Thank you for giving yourself.

 

Thanks for giving The River Center a new roof when we could see daylight through the old roof, for installing the insulation, for painting our walls, for redecorating our meeting room. Thank you for bringing in clothes to share with others, thank you for preparing food, thank you for garden vegetables for our families. Thank you for teaching beginning computer skills, for doing tax returns for free, for speaking to our parenting groups about legal issues and relaxation. Thanks for giving your ideas and for giving encouragement to keep The River Center going.

 

Thanks for giving your financial support. We have received gifts in crumpled dollar bills, in formal letters from foundations, in checks for specific uses, in response to our appeal letter, and for no reason at all. We cannot keep our doors open without your financial support. Thanks for giving so that we can keep giving services and support to individuals and families in the 14 towns of the eastern Monadnock region.

 

So, Thanks for giving. I am thankful this November that I get to see up close and personally the generosity of the people of our community. There are a lot of very generous, caring people in our towns. And I’m grateful we can provide a way for those generous hearts to make a real difference in our community. There’s no way to say it too much. Thanks for giving!

 

Margaret Nelson

Executive Director

The River Center