The holiday season is the season of giving.This seems to be universally accepted. People drop change in the red tins outside of grocery stores, volunteer at the local homeless shelter, or donate gifts to organizations that distribute the toys to children. Collectively, the idea of "giving" in any form makes the giver feel better about themselves. Perhaps it makes them feel above everyone else, or perhaps it humbles the soul. Despite the "season of giving" taking place during the latter months of the year, the idea of "making a difference" is also a predominant theme year-round in society. It can be demonstrated through large donations of money, hefty volunteering hours spent at an organization, taking a trip to a third-world country, etc .

However, I want to suggest to you, dear reader, that although all of these forms of giving are fabulous and I absolutely encourage them, there are other ways (more subtle ways) to make a difference than you might be aware of currently. Perhaps you overlook it accidentally in the typical fated human ignorance that plagues us all. Maybe you don't see these ways of giving as important compared to the "bigger" ways of giving. Either way, I am hoping to respectfully open your eyes to the simpler ways of making a difference that you will also be able to incorporate into your days of giving.

From what I can interpret through countless (and I mean countless) social media posts, it seems as though the common thought among the masses is that making a difference is definitely quite some time a way (ten years, at least), might include donating a large sum of money to an organization or cause, and is actually quite ambiguous? For those who are unfamiliar with these posts, they run in substantial quantities among millennials who frequently type a simplistic message such as "Can't wait to make a difference one day," or "I'm going to make a difference one day."

Deciphering these messages can prove to be tricky--what are they waiting for? Why do these people feel that they need to wait for a long period of time before their chance at making a difference comes along? Do they think they have to be in a stable position in life, so they can donate a large sum of money? Can't they see the countless opportunities around them on a daily basis? Are they really so consumed by their own ignorance that they are blind to the everyday pain others are experiencing? It's in plain sight, yet it's overlooked.

What about the girl who eats alone at lunch everyday? What about the over-stressed couple who could do with a kid-free night out? What about the man who could really use a friendly face to treat him like a human being? What about the single mom who's struggling to put food on the table or take the kids to extracurricular activities? What about the elderly couple who could use some help shoveling their driveway in the winter? What about the boy who has depression who needs a friend and a reason to live? What about the people with anxiety who could desperately use someone to help them cope? What about the disgruntled cashier who could use a compliment to brighten his or her day? What about the kid whose parents are going through a nasty divorce and just wants someone to talk to as he or she cries? What about the girl or boy who is relentlessly bullied and could use someone to be a friend? What about the parents who are struggling to make ends meet and don't have enough money to buy clothes for the kids?

Having dreams to stop homelessness or end hunger are great and 100% encouraged, but in the meantime, while we are waiting to obtain the means to achieve those big goals of ours, I think we need to stop and take a look at the subtle suffering happening around us that desperately needs our attention. It's simple to overlook, and no one thing or person is to blame, but it's there and it can't be ignored.

Just a simple "hello" could lift up a soul. Sitting with that girl at lunch could make her feel so much better about herself. Offering to babysit on Friday night for that couple could give them hope about their struggling relationship. Offering to buy groceries for the struggling mom could bring her to tears at such kindness. Being a friend to the boy with depression might provide him more hope for the future. Listening to the worries of people with anxiety could relieve them of the mounting pressure on their back.

In the end, it's about us and what we chose to do while this was happening in front of us. It's about who we chose to be in a particular moment in time. Because that's what making a difference is. It's how we proved to ourselves that being a caring neighbor, a loving individual, a selfless person, and a simple human being are all the tools we need to make a difference.

I'm not suggesting that having bigger goals of making a difference are wasteful or stupid, but I am suggesting that you possess the means to make a difference right here and now, even as you type that overused post. Dream big. Have dreams of ending hunger, but don't forget about the subtle struggles around you on your way up that ladder. I understand that you may need a large sum of money to donate to your cause, but remember your neighbors, too. Don't forget to look back.

I think it's about more than the money or what people consider "giving back to the community." I think it's about the will of a person. I think it's about how strong this will is and how cogent it must be to gear the human mind to see the never-ending struggle in society while simultaneously holding the desire to relieve as much of this struggle as possible.

Ultimately, what I'm trying to suggest is that we as human beings can make a difference on a more subtle level while simultaneously making a difference on a bigger level. Just because the rest of the world doesn't see it, doesn't mean it didn't happen. We have no one to prove our selflessness to--it's all about how we want to see ourselves when we look in the mirror.

So this holiday season (and every other season), while you're out shopping for gifts or groceries, look at the people in the store and think about what they might be going through. Think of how simple it would be for you to help your neighbors. Think of how simple it is to become the person you want to be. Making a difference is not as complex as it might seem. Don't wait until tomorrow to start your journey.

Start today.