In the midst of the chaotic “haulidays,” many of us have our own “reasons for the season.” Maybe it’s the religious significance of the holidays or time spent with family and loved ones. For others, it’s spreading cheer through gifts and acts of kindness.

Whether it’s for one or multiple reasons, one thing remains the same: Over-the-road fathers across the country continue helping the wheels of the world spin. Delivering holiday joy for everyone else sometimes means missing out on big family holidays. However you can, thank the over-the-road drivers for keeping on trucking!

For an over-the road dad like Prime driver Anthony Eck, this time of year is a time for family and for giving back. By taking the time to spend with both his Prime family and his family back home, he’s found many ways to give back during the holiday season.

“(Showing kindness) is important, because if we treated everybody badly, the world would not be the best place to live in,” he said.

Don’t miss insights from a Prime driver father on generosity and spreading kindness to ensure you’ll be at the top of Santa’s “Nice List” this holiday season!

Look for examples of generosity around you.

What does it mean to be generous? The definition might be slightly different depending on who you ask, but in general there are several elements that most people can agree on. For Anthony, a generous person is “someone who does something without being asked, who will make time out of their day to help someone out without expecting something in return.”

Acts of generosity can look different from person-to-person. Anthony’s “Prime” example of a person who demonstrates the value of generosity is fellow Prime driver Emily Plummer.

“She goes out of her way to make sure people get help,” he said, adding that Emily sponsors her old high school’s football team and helps fellow drivers reach financial goals on GoFundMe.

Being generous can be as small as giving a compliment or holding the door for someone or as big as contributing significant time, money and other resources for a person or cause. These gestures foster a sense of connection, which can have a positive impact on the community.

As a Prime driver, think of the generous people in your own life. How do they show that generosity? Use other generous people as a source of inspiration for how you can bring practices of generosity into your own life. We challenge you to be thinking of ways you can give back this season; even the smallest gestures can make a big difference!

Find opportunities to give back.

Small acts of kindness can help brighten someone’s day. During the holiday season specifically, there are several ways of giving back. Maybe it’s donating to a canned food drive or coats and blankets to a cold-weather shelter.

One of Anthony’s favorite ways of giving back during this time of year is by participating in Wreaths Across America with a group of fellow Prime drivers. Prime partners with Wreaths Across America to help haul wreaths across the country to lay on the gravestones of fallen veterans.

“When we do these voluntary loads every year… we’re paying tribute to those who have served as a way to give back to them,” he said.

Wreaths Across America is just one of several causes you can donate your time/resources to. In fact, donating to charity has been shown to increase overall happiness and fulfillment. Find a cause you care about and do what you can to help.

Set a positive example for your children.

When children see their parents practicing kindness and generosity, they tend to do the same. Anthony says this is true when it comes to his children.

“I get told that I have a big heart and that I’m thoughtful of other people,” he said. “My daughter is the same way; she’s concerned and caring about other people.”

Anthony says that all his children have their own ways of showing kindness and doing what they need to do to help out others.

“I must be doing something right,” he joked. “I always taught (my kids) to ask themselves how they would feel if they were treated in a wrong way. Tell others to do what’s right, and treat somebody with the same respect you want to be treated with.”

Set a good example to your children about acts of kindness and generosity. We often get wrapped up in our own lives that we don’t even stop to think of what someone else might be going through. Put yourself in their shoes, and treat others the way you want to be treated. Your kids will learn to do the same! When dads are intentional about being role models for generosity and kindness (during the giving season and all year ‘round), they’re planting the seeds for a future generation of do-gooders.

Final Words

As the year draws to a close, remember to show kindness and generosity to others, through either big or small gestures. Anthony says to stick to the golden rule.

“If you don’t treat others the way you want to be treated, you’re not going to be happy tomorrow,” he said. “Try to show respect and treat everybody the way you want to be treated.”