Giving Back and Making a Difference
“I often joke that if you really want to be selfish, you should be generous! You should take good care of others, be concerned for their welfare, help them, serve them, make more friends, make more smiles.
The result… When you yourself need help, you’ll find plenty of helpers.”
- His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
Like many in my generation, I lived my formative years as a social activist in 1960’s and early 70’s and believed in making a difference in the world. I feel it is even more critical now that we re-awaken this vision and commitment.
Perhaps more so than at any time in recent history, there is a huge call to action required from each of us. This includes firstly making personal choices to live more effectively within our means as we take new steps to live more lightly on our planet.
Giving back gives us energy and a sense of purpose, meaning, and belonging. We can contribute money, our time, and/or our expertise. Each of us needs to give within our ability and we, as individuals, are the best judges of that. The truth, however, is that most of us are under-contributing.
Give, but don’t give yourself away….
I try to balance giving with ensuring that I’m not giving myself away, something I have done in the past. I currently spend my volunteer time helping to support affordable housing initiatives in my local community. Previously, I spent a number of years volunteering in Africa working in AIDS prevention.
I am a firm believer in this: giving is the shortest distance to feeling most alive, and finding something to do that reaches beyond ourselves is key to having a full and fulfilling life.
I am very fortunate that my work offers me both immediate and longer-term feedback. It’s been especially heartening to have a number of clients recently write to me about a feeling a sense of fulfillment and gratitude in our time spent together clarifying and prioritizing what really matters in their lives. Especially in these times, this is very rewarding and reinforcing feedback.
The rewards of giving
Speaking of rewarding, I made my regular visit to my local blood donation mobile unit yesterday. I regularly donate red blood cells, which is a bit longer of a procedure, to help in the treatment of children with cancer. The donor clinic was offering a free movie ticket for donating blood.
I felt like a triple winner: I did something I feel good about; I gave back to a needed cause; and I passed on my movie ticket to someone who just lost their job and needed a boost. If donating blood is something you are able to do, then go for it! The need is great in so many communities almost anywhere in the world.
