«Don’t give to get. Give to inspire others to give»
Simon Sinek
I think December is a good month to think about what it means to be generous.
We like to contribute to improving people’s wellbeing… and from TV, email, at work, through friends or even on the street they ask us to help others. Those nearby, or those far away who don’t have everything we enjoy without even realizing it sometimes.
Generosity, in my opinion, is also a way of expressing gratitude for life and the people around us or whom we admire, because we realize what we receive every day from those around us. To, for an instant perhaps, see hope through the glass a little fuller amid our confusion at how disruptive invasive technology is, which often separates us from the people we love instead of bringing us closer, or the bad news that scares us about the future, or the widespread distrust in institutions that used to seem to protect us. We might even feel a bit of joy thinking about how our act of generosity could affect the people who receive it. And maybe even a bit of serenity imagining that our drop of water could contribute to something bigger than ourselves. Or even feel proud of having pushed ourselves running a race to benefit others.
Often, out of lack of awareness, we don’t know we can help, and doing so lets us show curiosity and connect with something that matters a lot to us, like the environment, school failure, cancer or AIDS research, or animal welfare. All these gestures let us bring out a little piece of our heart in an environment where it’s not at risk, because it’s wrapped in special, soft, colorful paper: the donation. Of money, of time or imagination, of experience, of objects that may get a second life… When we’re generous, we go from “I” to “we” and somehow feel more connected to the world.
In my case, I’ve decided to help United Way grow in Spain because it allows us to touch every area where help is needed, company by company, giving life to their corporate social responsibility rather than relegating it to mere legal compliance. It’s amazing what some NGOs in Spain do to help those who need it most.
In the end, being generous lets us express all those powerful emotions (joy, gratitude, serenity, interest, hope, pride, inspiration, awe, love) which, moreover, science has shown what many already knew: they let us create that vital connection with others and improve our resilience in the face of the challenges each day brings us. It’s as if, through generosity and the emotions it produces, we could press the “reset” button and regain hope, if only for a few minutes.
For me, deep down, thinking about what generosity means has led me to think about who I want to be. As a mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend, cousin, worker, etc. And that’s always a good resolution for the holiday season!
Happy Holidays.
Amélie de Marsily
United Way España. Head of Fundraising Committee.