We're in the midst of the holiday season. This time of year, there is an abundance of activity. The lights, the carols and get togethers all put us in the mood.

Traditions and memories can make our emotions swirl. We think of the perfect gift for a loved one, a family member or friend. We look at all the holiday sales and peruse the gift guides looking for that special something.

I'd like to delve into the spirit of giving. It is about sharing time, resources and kindness with others without expecting anything in return. The funny thing is often, we do get something in return. We get a feeling of joy and empathy, and we feel like we are making a difference.

I think one of the most important things we can do is give of ourselves. Sharing small acts of kindness can go a long way to making us all better. Often, simply asking someone you happen to have an interaction with about how they are doing can build a brief connection of kindness. Their day and your day get a little better. Hopefully, both of you carry the spirit forward to the next interaction allowing the spirit of sharing to multiply. These simple connections help create the fabric of our community.

People are also reading... Napa teacher placed on leave again following 2022 Dixon incident Fire damages Calistoga barbecue; no injuries reported Napa County responds to Trump immigrant policies Update: No danger found after hazmat report near Napa High School, authorities say Rory's Bakehouse opens retail window on Old Sonoma Road in Napa Battle drags on over day care center planned for Napa's Alta Heights area St. Helena's Flora Springs acquired by Gina and Jean-Charles Boisset CIF State 5-A Football Championship: American Canyon runs past Palmdale 68-47 for title Top 10 stories of 2024, No. 10: Napa native Brock Bowers makes NFL history as rookie Raiders star Napa County Board of Supervisors says farewell to Gregory, Pedroza Jury rules Napa's Ace & Vine card room legally acquired license Christmas display at Napa house inspired by 1960s magazine Letter: Not our finest hour Three arrested after robbery at Napa's Ulta Beauty store Napa Police investigate major injury crash on Big Ranch Road

This time of year, it can be particularly difficult for those aging alone or those who feel isolated. If you know anyone who is aging alone or who might be feeling isolated, reach out and build a connection. It can be a very meaningful gift.

If you are aging alone or feeling isolated, know that there are many resources available to help you stay connected and help you navigate the issues of aging.

In Napa, Molly's Angels is one of the resources available to help solve aging alone issues. Molly's Angels mission is to empower seniors to lead lives filled with confidence, dignity and integrity, ensuring their access to essential services and opportunities. The primary ways they do this is through solving senior's transportation problems and through Molly's Cares -- a program to foster social and emotional wellbeing among seniors by helping people connect with people.

Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts

It is also especially important to give to yourself. Holidays can create expectations that are impossible to live up to. We get it in our heads that everything must be so perfect. Decorations must be just so, the food prepared perfectly, and the presents must have exactly the right sentiment.

When these lofty expectations aren't met, we may feel bad and get down on ourselves. Giving oneself a break and being happy with knowing you have done the best you can is like giving yourself a gift. Your stress melts away, you feel better about yourself and you allow yourself to feel the joy of the season.

Giving to yourself goes beyond giving yourself a break. Thinking about what you need to lead a healthy, happy and safe life and developing a plan to achieve these goals is like creating your personalized gift list.

This is particularly important for those aging alone. As we age, our physical and mental capabilities change. Building a support network now in anticipation of these changes can be invaluable in living a long, happy and healthy life.

A support network should help you avoid isolation by expanding your social groups, including affordable experts that you can trust and locally available resources to help meet your changing needs. If you don't know where to start, there are several organizations that can help you take control of your journey including Community Health Napa Valley Information and Assistance line (707-253-4248), Molly's Angels (mollysangels.com) and the Napa/Solano Area Agency on Aging.

Giving of yourself through volunteering can be a wonderful way to truly experience the spirit of giving. Volunteering involves work, often hard work. Because it is volunteering, you should not expect anything in return. But, when you volunteer, you often get that great feeling of knowing you are making a difference. Volunteering can also help you feel more connected to your community and can help you build your network through the people you meet along the way.

When thinking about the spirit of giving, we can't forget charitable giving. There are many charities making an enormous difference in peoples lives. Two local charities focused on improving the lives of older adults in Napa County are Share the Care (sharethecarenv.org) and Molly's Angels.

Share the Care collects and distribute used medical equipment to older adults and the disabled in Napa County. They also run a fall prevention program. Injury from a fall can be one of the most devastating events in an older adult's life. Share the Care provides screening, home safety assessments by a licensed occupational therapist, and home modifications as well as assistive device installation by a contractor at no charge to Napa County residents.

The Napa County Commission on Aging wishes you a joyous holiday season filled with the spirit of giving!

Dan Woodard is a member of the Napa County Commission on Aging. He is a retired marketing research professional and enjoys spending time with his wife, dogs, garden and fruit trees.

What would you like to read about in this column? Feel free to let us know! Contact us at [email protected]

Catch the latest in Opinion

Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!

Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.