How did I manage to feel so elated you are afraid your heart will float away like a balloon? I decorated red, white, and green Christmas cards and signed my name 50 times. The cards were delivered along with a meal through the local Meals on Wheels program to an elderly person who lives at home.

In 2012, 11.8 million American seniors lived alone and faced isolation due to location, disability, or language barriers. Furthermore, seniors who receive meals from Meals on Wheels may lack family, mobility, and resources. From secondhand experiences from my grandpa and grandma, I can personally attest that those facts are heartbreaking to witness.

Creating holiday cards is an act of kindness but I also did it for me. Both of my only grandparents passed away within the past few years. For holiday celebrations I always made them cards, and as each year passes by, I do not have the chance to do that. So I overcompensated a bit.

The bundle of 50 Christmas cards to be delivered to local residents with their meal.

I made 50 Christmas cards. I wish this was my original idea, but it is not. In February, I made 35 Valentine's Day cards because DoSomething.org featured a campaign to make cards for elderly to combat isolation and suggested using Meals on Wheels as a way to deliver them locally. The simple idea behind the campaign was to spread love to someone who might not get any on the holiday about love.

There was not a campaign for Christmas but everything was the same except for the holiday. I wavered on doing this because I knew it would require a lot of cards to be impactful because the local program delivers to around one hundred residents. It would take time because as a perfectionist, every card has to look beautiful. As a procrastinator, I did not think of the idea until last week.

I desperately wanted to experience the same, heartwarming feeling I did after my Valentine’s Day cards were sent off, knowing someone would receive a card I made for them. It was when you feel the rare warmth the world provides and everything suddenly makes sense and you wonder why everyone isn't kind if it makes you feel this good. You are so elated that you are afraid your heart will float away like a balloon.

I could not simply wish for the same feeling. You have to take action instead of thinking about doing it. I rummaged for cardstock, found a few shiny sharpies, and got to work.

My motivation behind my card making was to spread a little holiday cheer and love to seniors in the place of my own grandparents. Perhaps my card will be delivered to an older man like my grandpa who lived alone and felt isolated, showing someone is thinking about him. Maybe my card will reach an older woman like my grandma who tacked my cards to her fridge so she would see them everyday.

This was an effort to let people know they are not alone in the holiday season. It does not matter how beautiful my cards are but the powerful feeling a card can create. Someone is thinking about them. A stranger loves them. Everybody deserves to feel cared about in the season of joy. I wanted to do something because the effects of loneliness are heartbreaking and if I can actively do something that eases it then I will.

"Ah kindness. What a simple way to tell another struggling soul that there is love to be found in this world." -A.A Malee

Even though I do not know the real impact of my cards, hopefully my unexpected cards will result in a small smile and a warmed heart. Maybe my little Christmas cards are scattered across the city I live in and are displayed in all the houses that received one.

I feel a tidal wave of happiness knowing that half of the local residents Meals on Wheels delivers to will get a Christmas card with their meal. It was a big effort for me with a small result for receiving individuals, but the smallest actions speak the loudest.

I did not do this for recognition. I wanted to share my story in hope it inspires people to do something kind this holiday season. You can be kind on your own without being involved in a club or organization. The only requirement is to take the initiative.