Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is coming up and I am getting excited.  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  Thanksgiving is a non-religious holiday and everyone is included.  As I watch Thanksgiving celebrated in my neighborhood, I see gatherings of families and friends to help each other celebrate the holiday.  In years gone by I have celebrated with others by participating in a “Turkey Trot” in Ohio, many “Turkey Bowls” here in California, my version of the annual “Crank n’ Stein Turkey Ride” in the Santa Clarita area, and the traditional Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends.
As I reflect on the celebration of Thanksgiving I realize that it is about community.  There is a saying that it takes a Community to raise a child.  This is our opportunity to give thanks to our community.  Many people give back through their church or synagogue.  I like to give back by helping those that I can see receiving the help I give.  It gives me great pleasure to help someone else.  They do not need to know what I am doing or why.
On one occasion this past year I came across a teenage boy, passed out.  At first I did not know what was wrong with him.  A friend of his was near by.  I realized I needed to make a decision to stop or keep going.  If I stopped I would be late to a meeting.  I decided to stop and assess the situation.  By talking with the friend of the passed out teenager, I discovered that the teenager had been drinking and probably passed out from drinking.  Although the friend was at first reluctant, I talked him into calling 911 for help.  He was reluctant because he did not want to get his friend in trouble.  As we waited for help to arrive, I took the opportunity to give unsolicited advice to the friend.  I explained to him the dangers of drinking, especially drinking to the extent the passed out teenager appeared to have done.  My hope is that, as a stranger rather than a parent or school teacher, I had a positive effect on both of these teenagers, which will help them to make better decisions in the future.  Later that day when I met up with my friends, and explained why I was late, they reminded me “it takes a community”.
If we all help someone, even once per year, imagine the positive effect we can have on the place we and our families live.
Jerald Schneider is a Certified Public Accountant providing tax, accounting and financial advice for more than 25 years.  He can be reached at 661-297-1072 or by e-mail at jerald@jeraldschneider.com.