Hello friends,
I woke up with these words running in circles through my groggy mind.
“If loving is the answer, then what’s the giving for?”
—Paul Stookey, “Wedding Song”
I’ve sung this song thousands of times. And this one line always makes me wonder about the connection between love and giving.
This past week, I received numerous reminders of “Giving Tuesday.” Who started this?
The Giving Tuesday website describes the concept as “a Movement that unleashes the power of radical generosity around the world.”
GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good.
GivingTuesday was born and incubated at the 92nd Street Y and its Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact in New York City.
GivingTuesday is now an independent nonprofit and a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
So, what’s the giving for?
While the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and Black Friday focuses on charity, the organization views generosity as an everyday goal. Their mission supports building communities where we come together to help and uplift one another across cultures, continents, and contexts.
None of us live in isolation. Interconnections link us in ways we often do not see. One generous act, however small, can ripple across a neighborhood, a town, or the world. We never know how one gesture of radical generosity makes a difference to one and many.
So, what is the giving for?
“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.”
— Maya Angelou
Giving unleashes unexpected benefits. I discovered five:
1. Giving makes us feel happy. Giving lights up our brain makes us feel pleasure and connection and a warm glow.
2. Giving is good for your health. Researchers have found links between our generosity and the reduction of stress and blood pressure.
3. Giving promotes cooperation and social connection. Giving Tuesday provides a great example of this in action.
4. Giving evokes gratitude. No matter which end of the giving you find yourself, gratitude follows.
5. Giving is contagious. I am often inspired and driven to generosity by the actions I see in others.
“It’s not how much we give, but how much we put into giving.”
— Mother Teresa
The giving is for all of us. And which comes first: love or giving? I consider it iterative and interdependent—a force to radically change an ailing universe.
What’s the giving for? Let’s all try it and see what happens.
“No one has ever become poor from giving.”
— Anne Frank
Generosity takes on many forms, but I’ve learned only a moment has the power to change the world.
What if we could lead a life of excessive generosity? Jeff Shinabarger has an answer for us.
Peter, Paul, and Mary sing the Wedding Song (There Is Love), and let’s take the advice of Supertramp and “Give a Little Bit.”
“You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”
― Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet
Find a little wonder this week, and don’t be afraid to become radically generous.
With gratitude,
Kathryn
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Thank you for these thoughtful quotations. You inspired me!