On Christmas day here in Venice, my partner @ronproulx and I will be hosting a meet-up for L.A. social media users with a heart. If you’re like most of us, around 2pm on Christmas day you’ll be stuffed full of great food, you’ll have plenty of presents opened and piled neatly, and you’ll be wanting to take a well-deserved snooze while the kids play with their new toys. Why not take a walk to the beach instead?

The thought occurred to me that I could forfeit that nap and spend an hour on the boardwalk giving away leftovers to hungry people.

With all the Twitter power in L.A., I wondered if collectively we might be able to make a small difference in the lives of some of the homeless people out on the beach.

The more I thought about it, the more reasons I came up with for doing it. In fact, I couldn’t find one reason not to:

1. For the pure joy of it. Giving triggers the same pleasure responses in the brain as chocolate.

2. Because people are suffering. Now more than ever.

3. For the social experiment. Can we really use social media to meet up with dozens of people we’ve never met and make a difference?

4. Because I have no other plans. Somehow I made it to Christmas day without a plan. How great is that?

5. Because I have everything to give. I am blessed with good health, a roof over my head, a wonderful and loving family, friends, a cool partner and a sweet cat. Everything else is yours.

6. To challenge others to give. One person can make a difference, but hundreds and thousands can change the world.

7. Because I can. And you can too!

8. Because I have nothing to lose. Truly, what is there to lose by making new friends and giving some time?

9. Because kindness is a commodity we can all invest in. It’s free!

10. Because it feels good. (See #1.)

I’m willing to bet there are dozens of people in the Venice area who can spare two hours between 2 and 4 on Christmas afternoon to meet up in our walk street garden with a drink of their choosing, then spill out onto the boardwalk with Christmas leftovers, whether it be food, clothing or presents for the homeless.

I really look forward to meeting you and tweetuplifting with you in Venice!

For details, check #tweetuplift in the twitter stream and email me at moira@feelgoodguru.com for our address.

Filed under: Feel Good Stuff by Tags: — Moira on December 23, 2008