Your story was very inspirational! I just wanted to say that I honestly just read it lol, but I have been giving and being thankful this year.
There's an event called the Angel Tree you pick a random paper ornament off a tree and buy items for those in need. I did that and I had a lot of fun doing so.
At work we have this jar that we collect soda can tabs for help for cancer funds and I went through all of my families soda cans and took off all of the tabs and I even went through the ones at work. Sure it's not money, but it helps.
I used to be so selfish in the past, but I've grown up I know what's important and I'm glad I'm not the only one who realizes this too!
I had to work on thanksgiving and black friday and I'll tell you what it sucked, but I enjoyed it because I was helping out others who needed cheap gifts, because they didn't have money. Every one of my customers thanked me as they came through my line.