Isla Martinez | Soul Sesiones

Just this week, Los Angeles experienced sadness and loss with the horrific mass shooting in Thousand Oaks and Camp Woolsey and Hill rapidly spreading across the Ventura county, where thousands of acres have already burned and 75,000 homeowners have been forced to evacuate their homes in the Ventura/ Los Angeles counties. Although this has happened, this month represents thankfulness and with being thankful comes the act of giving back to those who need it the most.

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”  – Melody Beattle

There are so many ways you can give back this month, below are just a few ways in which you can get involved in some way or another, bring your friends and family and set aside some time this month where you can be in good spirits and allow gratitude to fill your mind, body and spirit.

• Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation: Requesting donations at supportLAFD.org to provide hydrate backpacks for the LAFD firefighters working  to contain the fires across Southern California, “Any amount of money you can spare makes a difference.”
• American Red Cross: Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
• Temporary Housing: Open your home to an evacuee or firefighter through Airbnb, hosts around Southern California are opening their homes for free from November 8th to November 29th, learn more here.
• Donate: Donate to the victims and the familes of the victims impacted by the Thousand Oaks Mass Shooting. The Rotary Club of Westlake Village has set up  a GoFundMe Page, more here. 
• Call your representatives: Those who wish to have an impact on gun control legislation can write or call their local lawmakers and congressional representatives, who do I call? Find members of Congress here .
• Volunteer @ Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission: Fill out the volunteer appliction form here, where you can help by serving a hot lunch or dinner, assist with office tasks, sort donated food & clothing & more
• Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: Get together with a social, church or work group and spend a day volunteering at the LA Regional Food Bank, volunteer information here.

November is a time to be grateful for all that we have, but it is also important to remain grateful of all our blessings all the days and months out of the year. Practicing gratitude absolutely needs to be a part of our life everyday as we give thanks every morning for another day of life! Gratitude improves our health, relationships, emotions, everything you can imagine.

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm: 107:1

May this mantra, “I have so much to be thankful for,” bring peace, love and healing into your life every day. Feeling thankful is a beautiful, powerful emotion that can help us all embrace the positive things life brings us. You can recite this mantra a few times out loud or quietly to yourself and after, I encourage you to list a few things you are grateful for.

Have a beautiful  Soul Sunday, thank you for stopping by this week’s Soul Sesiones!

Xx, Isla