As any beauty junkie can attest, it's always great to treat yourself, and feeling good is so, so important. I am the biggest believer of that. If you feel good, your energy gives those feelings off and it makes the surrounding people also feel good. Also when you feel good, you can give more to those who need as you're not drained and by looking after yourself, you are in effect, looking after others (especially you mothers out there!)
Even though we should all be giving all year around (where we can, of course), xmas is the time where a lot of people need it the most. Life seems to be only getting harder, the economy is seeing it quite tough right now and it does feel good to give.
At this time of year these are some good things you can do:
* Take all unwanted foods (canned and other non- perishables) down to your local food bank in preparation for the homeless xmas dinners.
* Volunteer to help out with the local food banks for the actual xmas lunch or dinner (you can also be this at Easter, or Thanksgiving in North America).
* Donate new children's toys and leave them under the donation tree at your local Kmart (or a toy store that you know does this).
* If you have handbags that you want to get rid of, instead of donating them to the local clothing charity store, fill them up with things that women need, like sanitary products, hairbrushes, daily essential things etc, and them out to homeless people that you see.
* For those in the northern hemisphere, take old, unwanted blankets and hand them out to the homeless. I know it snows in most places, and warmth is key. Or even hot cups of coffee, tea or hot chocolate.
* For those in the southern hemisphere, take around bottles of chilled water or zooperdoopers, especially in Australia, as it gets so hot.
Other ways you can help throughout the year:
* Donate money, or time, to your favourite charity. Mine are always animal charities as animals especially, cannot help themselves and need people. Plus animals. :)
* Pay for a adoption fee for someone to take home a new fur baby, if you are unable to take care of an animal yourself.
* If you're not squeamish (or have a high fear of needles), donate Blood, or even better, super rare things like Bone Marrow, that so many people overlook (Bone Marrow is needed for people who suffer from things like Leukaemia).
* Buying a Viva Glam lipstick from MAC. 100% of the proceeds from the Viva
Glam lipstick and lipglass range goes to the AIDS foundation, helping those in need who suffer from AIDS.
* Buying a Pink Hope lipstick from Luma cosmetics. 100% of proceeds goes to Pink Hope, a foundation helping those who have been affected by Breast Cancer.
Honestly, there are SO many things you can do to help those in need. Even if you cannot do anything on this list, or anything else, even pay for someone's coffee that's behind you. It may not be much but you're paying it forward.
Doing a good deed will make you and someone else feel great and lift someone else's spirit. Remember, you never know what someone else is going through, their struggle or why someone may be the way the are or stuck in the situation they're in. Don't judge and don't discriminate. One day it could be your struggle. You just never know.
What are your favourite ways to help someone?
