The Small Ways We Show Up This Season.

One minute I’m wrapping up projects and chasing year-end goals, and the next my calendar is full, my work and personal to-do lists keep growing, and everything feels like it’s moving just a little faster than I’m ready for. It’s easy to stay in “go” mode and forget to pause.

At National Car Charging, we spend our days focused on momentum—building EV infrastructure that works, scales, and makes a real difference. But December has a way of slowing me down just enough to notice something important: some of the most powerful moments don’t come from big plans or finished projects.

They come from small choices. From how we show up for people, quietly and consistently, day after day.

For me personally, giving back has never been about doing something flashy. It’s about paying attention. Noticing when a small gesture might matter more than we realize. 

The moments that stay with me aren’t grand—they’re deeply human. Like the stranger who handed me a tissue in an elevator one Christmas. My dad was in the hospital, and when the doors closed, I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. It was a simple act of kindness—one I’m sure she has long forgotten—but more than 25 years later, that moment still stays with me. And there are others, too like the woman who jumped out of her car to hold the door open as I rushed into the emergency vet with our dog and the friend who stopped by unannounced simply because I didn’t sound like myself in a morning text.

Those moments stick. They remind me that kindness doesn’t have to be complicated—it just has to be real.

As this overly full, unpredictable and sometimes shocking year winds down and the holidays settle in, I’m trying to hold onto those moments and find small, meaningful ways to show up with more care. If it resonates with you, I hope you will too. 

Here are some ideas to get you started … 

Sometimes It’s Rolling Up Your Sleeves. Winter makes everything harder. Clearing snow for a neighbor. Dropping off a meal. Offering to run an errand for someone who’s stretched thin.

None of it takes much — and all of it matters.

Sometimes It’s Giving What You Already Have. December is a critical month for food pantries, shelters, schools, and animal rescues. A bag of groceries. Warm clothes. Pet food. Supplies.

You don’t need more. You just need intention.

Sometimes It’s Saying the Thing Out Loud. A thank-you that’s been sitting in your head. A note to a teacher, coach, colleague, or friend. A simple “I appreciate you.”

Those words land harder than we think.

Sometimes It’s Paying It Forward. Covering someone’s coffee. Leaving a little extra at the tip jar. Letting kindness travel without needing credit.

You may never see the impact — and that’s okay.

And Sometimes It’s Just Inviting Someone In. The holidays can feel lonely, even when everything looks festive. An invitation. A seat at the table. Time.

Connection is powerful. We forget that sometimes.

One Last Thought.

As I look back on this year, I’m reminding myself that progress isn’t only about what we build or how much we accomplish. While achievements certainly have meaning and value, in a world that often feels heavy and fast-moving, what matters just as much (if not more) is how we show up for each other, especially in the quiet moments that rarely get noticed.

This December, I’m choosing to step back from the noise where I can, slow down just enough to be present, and lead with a little more kindness and grace for others and for myself. Some days that’s the best we can do, and more often than not, it’s enough.

And my hope is that this kind of energy—steady, human, and quietly contagious—carries with us into the new year, lighting the way forward together.

About Margaret-Ann Leavitt.

Margaret-Ann is the driving force behind marketing and communications for National Car Charging and Aloha Charge, blending passion with a proven track record of success. With experience at top brands like Mattel, FCB Global, and Disney, she’s a dynamic leader known for her strategic vision and ability to fuel growth. Margaret-Ann spearheaded national campaigns that delivered double-digit growth at Home Instead Senior Care, pushing the company past the billion-dollar mark, and she’s been instrumental in building the brand foundation for Silvernest, a 500 Startups Global alum. A long-time sustainability advocate and EV enthusiast, Margaret-Ann is deeply committed to making a positive impact both professionally and personally. She holds a B.A. in Economics from Colgate University and an M.F.A. in Film Production from the University of Miami. Outside of work, she serves on the board of GALS Denver, Colorado’s only all-girls public school, and is a founding member of Denver’s Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk. Originally from the East Coast, she now calls Denver home, where she lives with her family and proudly drives fossil fuel-free.