Too many cooks in the kitchen
by Chris Jungle

One should never underestimate the advertising of a holiday to bring out good deeds. The Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons involve a lot of things, but one constant theme is that of giving to others. Unlike no other month span during the year, people donate their time, clothing, food, and money for needy causes and individuals. The Thanksgiving holiday has a built in mechanism which triggers many people's good nature, guilt, and the reminder that helping others is a good thing. As a result, the less fortunate get an overdose of everyone else's giving.

This Saturday in Albuquerque, NM, three full course turkey dinners were being held for the homeless, and in many cases, the same people went to all three. There's nothing wrong with the homeless getting several meals a day, but I can't help but think that this giving by others couldn't have been paced out a little more. Three turkey dinners on one day could have been stretched out to one each for three consecutive days, but the ones donating didn't think to see if anyone else was holding the same event on the same day. One thing about the giving message in the Thanksgiving holiday is that everyone wants to help out around the holiday.

It's not that the needy causes will complain about receiving donated items during the month long givefest. What they end up doing is stockpiling all of the goods for later in the year. In fact, they actually count on heavy donations during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season for much of their money, goods, and services. There is one shelter in town that freezes all of its turkeys donated at Christmas to last throughout the year. Heck, if I only got paid once a year, I'd freeze most of my money too. It's not that it's a bad time to give either, for if someone's just going to help out one time a year, they might as well do it during a cold month. It's just as cold, however, in January and February, but the holidays in those months (Martin Luther King Day, President's Day and Valentine's Day) don't spark the giving spirit as much.

I know it's corny to say "Let's have the Christmas spirit last all year long!" but it amazes me how many people only have the giving spirit during the Christmas month. In fact, if someone would ask me when would be a good time to donate time or goods, Christmastime wouldn't be the answer. The reason is that with everyone wanting to help, there ends up being more help than needed. It's along the same line as having too many cooks in the kitchen. Everyone wants to do their part when the best thing to do is wait for another, less busy, time to help.

Of course, I do have a plan to fix this over giving situation. All that needs to be done is for everyone to pick a month at random to be in the giving mood. Pick one that will be convenient for you instead of when a holiday reminds you. You don't have to go overboard either. Just an hour or two of your time a week would be really appreciated. In truth, I find people that donate a lot of their time a little bit spooky. I keep expecting them to show me a branded 'A' on their chest as the reason they're doing so much good will. Donating one's time, like everything else in life, should be done in moderation.

There are even ways to do good will without even helping another soul. All you have to do is be a good citizen. Although that may sound easy, it's actually quite difficult. It requires not honking one's horn when traffic slows up, opening the door for those punk kids who couldn't care less if you did, not grumbling when in line at the post office, and being tolerant of every type of person you come into contact with. If there are people who can do that successfully, I think they can mark off the 'doing good deeds' line on their checklist.

Regardless of when people feel like doing good deeds, it is good there are, at least, people out there worth helping. The less fortunate come in many shapes and sizes and are in their particular situation for many reasons. Some are mentally ill while others are poor, lazy, and stupid. There are also those who have been through bad circumstances and are slowly trying to rebuild their lives. Just like everyone else in society, the homeless have good and bad people in their clique. Doing good deeds doesn't always mean they are going to good people, but they're enough good souls out there to keep giving. So, help out now if you want, but a lot of places could really use you in January when there are no holidays to remind anyone. The less fortunate will still be there. I promise.

Chris Jungle has started a petition to have one more turkey holiday on the first Saturday of February just so he can eat turkey one more time.

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