It's the Little Things

It’s the little things. 

Lately, I find myself slowing down and taking in the little things. The sun on my face. My granddaughter’s hand in mine. The long walks in the neighborhood. I’m not wearing my headphones on my walks anymore, as I like hearing the squawking of the birds overhead. I’m paying attention to the flowers beginning to bloom and the smell of the blossoms on the tree. 

But yesterday I cried. It seems like it’s typical on Sundays now – it’s my “new normal.” Sundays used to be a day of getting a coffee, taking my time at the grocery store and just strolling and browsing. It was MY time to just browse and hang out.

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But now, I’m anxious to get home and it takes more time in the grocery store, as I’m dodging people in the aisles and trying to find a clear path to find my goodies. So, I cried. I cried for the loss of “normalcy” even though it’s ok. And I cried for an uncertainty that creeps in every now and then. When I put things into perspective, it really is ok. And this just sounds shallow. 

But, as I left the grocery store, I saw a woman experiencing homelessness sitting outside with a sign and it hits me, like it always does, that the hardships still go on. There is an even stronger need to care for those who need a little more – a little more food, a little more shelter, a little more love and a little more tenderness. 

This year, the theme for Idaho Gives is just perfect. “Idaho has given you so much. What can you give Idaho?” It’s a beckoning to all, asking for a hand. For a heart. For a hug. For a dollar. 

Idaho Gives is a time to support our fellow nonprofits and to support one another. It’s a time of community engagement and cheering for the underdog. It’s a time to lean on each other and give a little more. It’s a time to donate to our favorite organizations and even those that we’ve never heard of.

It’s time to celebrate the “new normal.” Let the “new normal” mean “support new things,” “try new things” or “take pleasure in new things.” Let the “new normal” mean that our eyes are wide open, our hearts are full and that we will celebrate even the littlest things. 

Idaho Gives is April 23 – May 7!

- Keri Davidson, Vice President, Membership and Development​​