Take time to share

Still coming off the sugar high from the bags of candy passed out at Halloween — not to mention the discounted bags picked up at the stores starting Nov. 1 — advertisements online, over the radio waves and on television are already coming at us for the holiday season.

It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of consumerism this time of year with all the advertising, but it’s important to keep in mind that the greatest gifts you can give don’t cost a thing.

With Thanksgiving just a couple weeks away, thought turn to turkey dinner with all the sides, and of course the abundance of pies and other desserts. But don’t let the abundance of food and inevitable turkey-induced naps get in the way of what the holiday is about. It’s right there in the name — giving thanks. There are many others who go without adequate food, shelter or other basic needs, and if you have the means you can make a world of difference for someone simply by sharing what you have.

The same idea can be applied to Christmas and other holidays. Rather than buying something from a store or online, the greatest gifts can be sharing of talents, whether it be creating an elaborate craft project, writing a poem or performing a song.

But sharing of our talents, time and resources isn’t something limited to the holidays. In a community with a large senior population, there’s ample opportunity to visit with residents about the Thermopolis of yesterday and imagine what our town used to look like.

There’s also plenty activities in the coming months to volunteer for, and certainly won’t turn away a helping hand or donation.

So as we enter the twilight months of 2019, take time to make this a season not just of shopping, but also sharing.