a new year starting off painfully

We're only sixteen days into the new year, and a lot of people are suffering. There are fires in California, people in North Carolina are still hurting from the effects of Hurricane Helene, and there is animosity all around. It's hard to look at everything that's happening and think this year is going to get any better or be any better than last year. Maybe it will; maybe it won't. But here's one thing I do know. We can be better. We can help by donating our time, money, and needed items to those who've lost their homes. We can offer to take in animals that need a shelter while their families get back on their feet. We can pray. We can provide lists of resources for people in need. We can offer a hot meal to first responders. And we can respect them.

While the world seems like it's crashing around us, we can still offer hope. Maybe there are a lot of things happening in your life that have you spinning. Maybe you think this entire planet needs an overhaul. You might think people are mean, petty, and filled with inhumanity, but that doesn't apply to all of us. There are still plenty of people in this world who want to make it a better place. And that can start with one positive change.