Five Ways You Can Serve Others Without Being Part of The Military...

Happy Memorial Day (to those in the U.S.)!

One of my favorite things about Memorial Day is the annual Memorial Day Concert shown on PBS.

Between the wonderful singing performances and the poignant reenactments of various soldiers’ experiences (like the one that inspired my stigma post last year), the concert reminds us of the amazing ways in which our troops serve and sacrifice for our country.

Remarkable when you stop to think about it, right?

Going off to remote corners of the world, away from family and the creature comforts of home. Engaging in combat that threatens to take your life – and sometimes does. And returning home, possibly with PTSD, with limbs missing, or something else.

Really, how many of us are willing to make this level of sacrifice? How many of us have what it takes to serve in this way?

5 Ways You Can Serve Others Without Being Part of The Military…

We may not be equipped to serve in the military, but we can still find ways to serve others…

Like, how about this?

#1: Always treat ‘love’ like a verb.

Not to be blunt, but let me be blunt. It’s not enough to just feel love for someone. You’ve got to speak it and you’ve got to show it. You’ve got to make the effort and take continuous actions to show someone you care. To show someone they matter to you.

Because everyone wants to know they matter.

Love is a great feeling, but remember…always treat it like the verb it is. And know that small actions count.

#2: Always be inclusive toward others.

Whether at work or at play, with friends or even with family, always be inclusive toward others. Don’t see it as a burden. See it as something beautiful that not only makes the other person feel good, but YOU feel good too.

Really, take it from me, a naturally inclusive person…it feels good to know you’ve put someone at ease. It feels good to know you made someone feel a bit more comfortable. It feels good to make someone else feel good.

Remember, a little inclusiveness goes a long way.

#3: Love authentically.

So, while you’re treating love like the verb it is, remember to also love authentically. As Mastin Kipp from The Daily Love recently tweeted, “Having authentic love for someone means loving them in spite of their flaws.”

Let me take that a little further. Here’s what I recently tweeted…

Don’t define someone solely by their flaws. When you do, you discount everything else they are – and that’s a loss to you! (<– Click to tweet this!)

#4: Don’t be a flake.

Remember, the only good kind of flakes are Corn Flakes and, if you’re in the mood for a splurge, Frosted Flakes. But people flakes? Not so good.

Keep your word to others. When you say you’re going to do something, do it. (And if you can’t, say something! Communicate, communicate, communicate…)

It’s interesting. Drew Barrymore just said, in a People Magazine interview, that this was the one thing she wanted to make sure to teach her kids. Good call.

#5: Never take anyone for granted.

The tragic shooting at UCSB this weekend, quite honestly, broke my heart…thinking of these poor kids whose lives were so unfairly stolen from them at only 19 or 20.

And then watching their families bravely give such emotional statements about their lost children. And friends saying, “I wish I had done this…” or “I wish I had said that”…

If something like what happened at UCSB doesn’t remind us to not take those we love (and like!) for granted, I don’t know what does.

Life really can change in an instant. Don’t procrastinate when it comes to showing others how you feel. You may not get another chance.

:: ::

So, there you have it. Five ways you can serve others without being part of the military…

Even if you do just one of these things, you’ll make a difference in someone’s life.

And isn’t that what life is all about?

Know someone else who could use a few suggestions on how to serve others? Please share this post with them by using one of the share buttons at the top or bottom of this post, or emailing them this URL: http://beyourselfandtherestwillfollow.com/5-ways-you-can-serve-others/

To serving others,