The holiday season is upon us.People everywhere are thankful for being alive despite the many challenges.

Being thankful is great for mental health and each individual should take time daily to sit down and reflect on what they are grateful for.

As one goes through the exercise daily , one realises that there are so many things to be thankful for.

The small things should never be taken for granted, for in the end, they contribute to the bigger things.

Holiday time evokes so many emotions for many people.I always go down memory lane when its holiday time.

I remember the journeys to Shurugwi whether by bus or in my father’s car.

The holiday mood would be already in the air as soon as we got kumusha.There was something positive about the end of year that always lingered in the air.

I didnt know it then but now I as I am older I think I have grasped why the end of year holidays were special.There were many things to be grateful for.

Some years were bad, drought years, losing loved ones, but my grandmothers , Gogo VaMaMoyo and Gogo VaMaSibanda always went out of their way to ensure that the holidays were special.

These two women were stay at home wives with minimal education.They always said that the education they had was just enough.Both boasted that they could vote unaided!

With their minimal education and their roots in the rural areas, they knew that holiday time was a time to give and share with others.

These women were givers , gifts they passed on to their children ,my parents.
Growing up my parents, never gave lessons on the importance of giving.They demonstrated giving.Giving to people we knew, relatives, friends, neighbours , our teachers, even people we did not know.They gave all sorts.

What Iearnt is one always has something to give.Everyone has something to give.The most important step is to start giving.

In the rural areas I have always witnessed giving in action.There are people who give out of the goodness of their hearts.They give what they have.

They dont say :” I will give when I get more”.They just give.

Some give their time, just to hear how one has been.Some send firewood .Some come with the traditional sweeping brooms.They give cups of salted groundnuts which are wonderful snacks. They give generous portions of dried vegetables.

They make time to get wild fruits and give to others who cannot go fruit hunting.Some milk their cows and share the milk with families who might not have cattle.Others share manure….I could go on and on.

This holiday time , reach out to someone and give from whatever you have.It doesnt have to be big.Small, genuine will touch the heart.Dont wait until you have more, start NOW!