Just like you can tell it’s autumn when the leaves change color and start to fall, you know it’s time to pause when a falling acorn hits you on the head. My “acorn moment” happened a few weeks ago when I attended an event at the Gratitude Cooperative—an organization founded by a friend that brings hospitality professionals together for service, networking, and learning.
In Service of Soup
The first part of the event was all about service. Our mission of the day was to pack up soup for an organization called, God’s Love, We Deliver. It’s a nonprofit that cooks, and home-delivers medically tailored meals for people with severe and chronic illness.
While we didn’t know all the healthy ingredients in the mushroom soup before us, we donned our aprons, hairnets, and gloves and got to work ladling and packing soup into containers for distribution. I’ve never been much of a chef, so this was my kind of activity—and the surprise benefit was how relaxing and fulfilling it turned out to be. I quickly lost track of time as I chatted with other hospitality volunteers. The beauty of it all was that this simple act helped feed people who might otherwise go hungry because they can’t eat the food served at a traditional soup kitchen.
In Service of Learning
After we had managed to pack over 4000 containers, we were ready for our second act — a keynote talk by Kerrie Lee Brown, Chief Content Officer and Editor-in-Chief of Success magazine, an acclaimed publication focused on personal and professional growth.
Kerrie Lee Brown was incredibly inspiring. She spoke about the importance of fostering purposeful connections as the foundation for career success. When I think about how my own business has grown, I realize how fortunate I am to have built so many meaningful connections and lasting relationships—and that’s something I intend to keep nurturing.
In addition to finding people who share similar professional values and experience, Kerrie emphasized the importance of knowing and sharing your own story as a way to build those connections. Storytelling, she explained, is one of the most powerful ways to help others not only remember you but also relate to you on a human level. Through our stories, we uncover shared experiences, aspirations, and fears—the very things that form the basis of genuine relationships.
In Service of New Experiences
This won’t be the last time I attend a Gratitude Cooperative event. The energy and atmosphere were just right—a perfect blend of purpose and positivity. It was a wonderful opportunity to give back, and I’m so glad I stepped out of my routine to invest time in others as well as myself. I’m already looking forward to finding similar volunteer activities, especially around the holidays when people need extra care and support.
My advice to anyone is to fInd a group. NY Cares or Volunteer Match are great places to start. Find something that aligns with a cause close to your heart, whether it’s politics, health, education, or the environment. See how you can share your gift of time with others. Your heart will thank you for it.