Tragic events, like Hurricane Harvey, jolt us out of our normal routines. You see pictures of the devastation and it puts your life into perspective.
But, you can lose that perspective as fast as it appeared. Now that the rain has stopped here in Austin, it is easy to go back to our day-to-day activities. We can focus on life and ignore what is happening 163 miles away.
“If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap.If you want happiness for a day, go fishing.If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune.If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”
~Chinese proverb
It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have, anyone can give back. If you don’t have money, give your talents. It your talents won’t help, give your time. If you don’t have time, give your possessions. We all have something we can give.
It’s easy to see how giving back is good for others. What’s surprising is that giving back is also good for you. Science shows that when you give, you become happier. Giving back activates a part of the brain, called the reward center. Chemicals get released and it creates a feeling of warmth. The research also found that giving back can extend your life! Generosity is a win-win.
A lot of times your generosity creates a ripple effect of good. When you touch someone’s life, it inspires them to do the same.
At a McDonald’s in Indiana a customer was paying at the drive through and noticed the van behind him. This customer saw a father with four kids and told the cashier, “I’m going to pay for the father behind me, and I want you to tell him happy Father’s Day.”
That simple act created a chain reaction. The next 167 customers paid for the people behind them. The chain of giving back went on for over 8 hours. What started as one small act, had an impact on the lives of hundreds of people.
Every day, you can find small ways to give. You might help a friend clean their room, finish a project or teach them how to solve a math problem. You will also see that others are giving to you all the time. Be sure to take notice of these gifts.
Try to use your talents to make someone’s life better every day. It can be as simple as telling a funny joke or making the other person feel good about themselves. These simple acts lead to a more fulfilling life than you can ever imagine.
When you give, you also learn gratitude. It helps you be grateful for the things that others share with you. Looking back on my life, I am so thankful for the generosity of the people around me.
Life is a team sport. With a great team, anything is possible.
This post is part of a series of letters to my kids. My goal is to reflect on and capture as many life lessons as possible. Here is the current list I am working from.
PS: The American Red Cross is accepting donations on its website for Hurricane Harvey victims. You can also text HARVEY to 90999 to donate $10.
