Tara Pringle Jefferson is a freelance writer from Ohio, where she lives with her husband and two kids. Visit her blog, TheYoungMommyLife.com, for daily musings about the issues young moms face.
Imagine how different life would be for President Barack Obama (I’m still getting chills just typing that) if he didn’t have a supportive collection of grandparents, teachers, neighbors, colleagues, friends and associates. Imagine if no one was willing to listen to him, if people shunned him, if he became a victim of his upbringing. What if?
But he did have people along the way to nurture his intelligence, to help mold his genius. He has become one of America’s greatest success stories.
But what about the unknown kid that you may see walking to school every day? What about the boy who spends his nights devouring books but shuns reading around his friends for fear he may look weak? What about the young girl who fresh out of high school with doubts that she can make it in college? What will become of them if no one helps them along? What if one of them were to be someone special, only we didn’t know it?
I’m making it my personal challenge to find someone to help along that path of success. I’ve been blessed thus far. I’ve got a loving husband, great kids, a good career, supportive friends and a family who is always there when I need them. If that’s not enough reason to begin focusing on someone else, I don’t know what is.
Have you taken stock of what your gifts are and how you can help others? Think about giving back this year the easy way. Taking someone under your wing doesn’t take much effort, but the rewards are limitless.