Throughout this month’s issue, we are celebrating Dolly Parton,, not only for the music, personality, and unmistakable sparkle that have made her such an enduring part of our Tennessee culture, but also for something else that has long been part of her story: giving back.

From creating opportunities for children through her Imagination Library to supporting communities in times of need, Dolly has offered a wonderful example of what can happen when we use what we have – our talents, resources, time, or influence – to make life a little better for someone else.

And perhaps there is a wellness lesson in that for all of us.

When we think about taking care of ourselves, we usually think first about what we need to add to our own lives: healthier food, more movement, better sleep, less stress, more time to rest. Those things certainly matter. But wellness is not only inward-facing. Sometimes one of the things that nourishes us most is turning our attention outward.

Giving back can provide a sense of purpose, connection, belonging, and perspective. It reminds us that we are part of something larger than ourselves. And it does not necessarily require a grand gesture or even a traditional volunteer role.

Some of the ways I experience this in my own life happen through my church. I serve through Cooking with Joy, where food becomes a way of caring for others, and through Women of Joy, which offers another opportunity for connection and service. I enjoy both because they allow me to contribute in ways that feel natural to me while also spending time in community with others.

But I have also come to recognize that service is woven into my professional life. Much of my daily work involves developing and leading grant-funded programs designed to meet health and human-service needs in communities. There are deadlines, budgets, reports, meetings, and all of the practical pieces that come with that work, of course. But beneath them is something much simpler: the goal is to help people.

And then there are the smaller, everyday acts of kindness, that can be just as meaningful.

One of my personal go-to practices is to plan each week to be intentional about doing at least two acts of kindness. Sometimes that means taking a bouquet of flowers to a neighbor. Sometimes it is making a phone call to someone who is struggling or could use a little encouragement. Other times it may be leaving something special for the people who quietly make our days run more smoothly – the custodians, mail carriers, delivery drivers, or others whose work can easily go unnoticed.

The flowers pictured here were one of my own “two for the week”- a simple bouquet and note, ready to be delivered just because I wanted someone to feel remembered. They are small gestures, but that is part of the point. Giving back does not always have to be formal, organized, or time-consuming. Sometimes it is simply noticing someone and choosing to do something thoughtful. That realization broadens the way we might think about service.

Your own opportunity to give back may already be part of the work you do every day. It may happen through your church, school, neighborhood, workplace, or community. You might mentor someone, prepare a meal, support a cause you care about, help an older neighbor, share a professional skill, volunteer at an event, or simply make time for someone who needs to be heard.

Service does not have to look the same for everyone. And importantly, it should not become another measure of how much we can squeeze into an already crowded life.

For those of us who are naturally inclined to care for others, there can be a fine line between meaningful service and constantly saying yes. Giving back as a wellness practice is not about giving until we have nothing left. Healthy service leaves room for boundaries, rest, and the realities of whatever season of life we happen to be in. Sometimes we have the capacity to do a lot. At other times, our contribution may be something very small. Both count.

Instead of asking, “What else can I do?” we might ask, “What do I already have to share?”

Maybe it is time.

Maybe it is a talent.

Maybe it is professional knowledge gained over many years.

Maybe it is a casserole delivered to someone who needs it.

Maybe it is encouragement, companionship, generosity, or simply noticing someone who could use a little kindness.

Giving back does not always require changing the world.

Sometimes wellness grows in the quiet exchange that happens when we use a little of what we have to make someone else’s corner of it better.

So, perhaps this month we might ask ourselves: What would Dolly do?

Perhaps Dolly captured that spirit beautifully when, in describing something she had created, she said she wanted it to be “a gift from me to other people.” Maybe that is the spirit of giving back at its best – not necessarily doing something grand but looking at what we already have and asking how we might use it to brighten someone else’s life.

You may discover that what you give has a way of giving something back to you, too.

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Sources and Resources

A Time to Bloom Health and Wellness Coaching, LLC https://atimetobloomcoaching.com/

Image credits: Author/Shutterstock