The antidotes for anxiety and sadness

This article was made possible by my awesome ?? interns: social media - Amanda Parmo and strategic communications / web - Annie Dunlap...and, seriously, I know a lot of you know this - but #gratitude and #service are powerful antidotes to anxiety and sadness.

For more content like this, plus aspirational articles and photography intended to provide a healthy distraction from the mundane and sometimes stressful parts of everyday life, follow Sophisticated Living Columbus.

It's tough to not stress about finances when everything seems so uncertain and tenuous. To fight the urge to constantly check on my retirement account or real estate investments, I have found that making a donation helps divert my attention and keeps me focused on what really matters and the people who are making a difference.

Here are links to some of the places I have recently given and pledged:

Children's Hunger Alliance: Now more than ever, kids who live in food-insecure situations need the emergency meals that CHA delivers.

Faith Mission: From meals to shelter to medical services (they have transitioned to telemedicine due to the pandemic), Faith Mission has been a staple in the support of the hungry and homeless community in Columbus since 1966.

Equitas Health: This invaluable resource for the LGBTQ+ community has emphasized the importance of providing mental health resources during this challenging time.

CURE International Hospitals: I only recently learned about their important and impactful work in some of the world's hardest-hit areas when my youngest daughter spent a week serving in their Addis Ababa, Ethiopia hospital.

BibleProject: Whatever your faith, I firmly believe we all could use a bit of hope and trust in something greater than ourselves right now.

The Columbus Foundation Emergency Response Fund: Living up to a reputation for impeccable leadership and foresight, TCF established the Emergency Response Fund weeks ago in anticipation of the incredible need the COVID-19 crisis would bring.

...and these organizations are just the beginning. If you are looking for more ways to positively impact our community, check out the 45+ nonprofits listed in the 2020 Charity Registry at sophisticatedgivingcolumbus.com and post your favorite nonprofit(s) in the comments below!