Random Acts of Giving

About

The purpose of this blog is to share the secret in giving, and as well to share some of my many experiences in giving to others, which I have done over my lifetime.  One may wonder why some people are generous or why one woman such as myself, without an abundance of money, is empathetic, and immensely generous with what I do have. The answer to that question is in The Ten Dollar Test.

For me, nothing — and I mean nothing — has been more gratifying than giving to others. Giving is like the air that I breathe; without either, I could not live. Giving to others is my motivation for getting up each day, for doing the work I do, and more importantly, for executing the purpose of being what God wants me to be. Of course, we may journey through our lives without ever giving — that choice is ours — but how barren that road would be to travel. Sure, we can walk by a homeless person, and in moments forget that he or she ever existed, and choose to leave our hearts empty… Being a generous person certainly does not mean that one has to let themselves be taken advantage of by others. In fact being a giving person builds emotional strength. To be a consistent giver, one must be strong of heart, value their integrity, and have a deep insight into others in order to know how to meet their needs.

…But, wouldn’t you agree that giving to others is a victory, when we have conquered the hunger in even one man, one woman, or one child’s stomach?  I am not saying we have to feed a hungry person forever, but I am saying and praying, that forever we will desire to feed the hungry because, without a doubt, there will always be those that are hungry.  How they are fed is not relevant; that they are fed is the true accomplishment.  And, giving a donut or a sandwich is sometimes as important to someone as giving them a full course meal. Thus giving a homeless person even a single night to sleep somewhere that is safe and warm has given them refuge and hope that they will carry in their hearts forever. In fact, I strongly believe we are obligated to give to others for if we didn’t many social programs would have not have volunteers, charities would fail, communities would eventually die not only in our country but in other countries where doctors, teachers, missionaries and empathetic people go to give of themselves so that others may have a better tomorrow.

In doing my B.A. and graduating with a concentration in Political Science and Cultural Anthropology in 2003, I gained valuable knowledge about giving from a different perspective — namely from an academic one.  Giving in anthropological circles is not typically called “giving,” but rather is normally termed “reciprocity.”  For several years, most of my anthropology lectures were delivered by a brilliant professor of sociocultural anthropology, a man who I continue to honor beyond words.  I was astounded to learn through his lectures and throughout my coursework in economic anthropology that in most other cultures — even in the “simplest” hunter-gatherer societies in the Kalahari desert — giving / “general reciprocity” is extremely common and widespread.  In many of these cultures, it forms a major basis of day-to-day life — in fact, people who do not give generously to others are often shamed by others within their communities, as failing to give is considered highly offensive.  Further those who choose to horde for themselves rather than share of what they have are often excluded to the point of disassociation.  Most of these cultures are very keenly aware of why people choose not to give: often, it’s a matter of jealousy and in turn not wanting their kin/neighbours to increase their own wealth. Often, in our own society, some people do not give in a meaningful way, because they selfishly want more for themselves. Unfortunately, selfishness has roots that often spread out in jealousy and envy, and in turn stifle generosity. Eventually, a hatred of others for no other reason than wanting to have more than others will consume lives. But there will still be those that will live a life with purpose and fulfillment, giving to others for they have indeed found the secret in giving.

Wouldn’t you also agree, that giving is a great honor bestowed upon those that have the opportunity to meet the needs of another person, be it a friend or a complete stranger?  But, too frequently, we forget that random acts of giving do not always have to be done because someone is in dire need, but rather random acts of giving can be done and should be done at times for no other reason than “just because.”  But, for sure, it is a greater triumph when we have learned the “secret” in doing random acts of giving. I learned the secret in giving as a young child, and from that day forward, it molded me into a person that habitually gives to others with great joy.  Having the knowledge of the secret in giving has made me a wealthy woman, but not in the context of money and assets, but rather in richness of heart, mind and soul.  Certainly, if I was extremely financially wealthy, I could give more, and do more for others, but even without great wealth, I give of what I have.

I stress that giving is not always tangible. Many times, my experience in giving was giving of my courage — the courage to speak out for someone who could not do so on their own. Giving for me was to fill a spoon with ice cream, and gently guide the tasty portion into the mouth of a frail or dying senior.  Other times, my giving was that of being an advocate for physically or mentally-challenged people who struggled to shop for the bare essentials of life. And, for hundreds of days, I advocated for and politically lobbied for many precious seniors on sincere hopes that their lives — be it in nursing homes or assisted living complexes — would be significantly better. Giving certainly does not always have to be a gift-wrapped present, or a hot bowl of soup, although those too are good things to give.  Rather, sometimes, the best random act of giving is when we give of ourselves in situations when we protect the integrity of another, or perhaps in a court room as a juror, or as a witness of an accident, or even in rescuing someones pet.  Sometimes these random acts of giving can even may make us frightened or nervous, but as a result of giving of ourselves, of our courage, it encourages others to stand up and speak up, for those that are not capable to do this for themselves. The best random act of giving to another is the giving of hope, the giving of truth, and the of giving empathy — all of which nurtures the soul, heals the heart and strengthens the weak in body.

Over the years, I have met people who continue to be in my life for many years, and for whom I continue to do random acts of giving.  It is easier to give to others when we have an abundance, but when we give of what we have, and not only of our surplus, giving becomes that much more meaningful — for truly it is then that we know the secret in doing random acts of giving.  But, here is something I know beyond a shadow of a doubt — and the reason why I continue to do random acts of giving — is that it has touched and changed the lives of many, including myself.  Most of the people I have given to were strangers, many of these strangers have become someone I now call “friend.” I have formed close bonds with people through my random acts of giving, and those people have become my extended family.  Others have remained strangers, simply because my random act of giving to them was for a specific need, at a specific time, without expectations of ever seeing them again.

Would I like to be more financially wealthy than I am?  The answer, of course, is yes. The reason is that I could do more for others. But, as The Ten Dollar Test reveals, there still are a multitude of random acts of giving that can be life-altering, just by simply doing ten dollar random acts of giving. In a sensible manner, giving to others can be deemed a selfish act, for I believe it is more gratifying to give than to receive. Having said that, more wealth in my life would be wonderful, but I have always felt that I am never poor when there is always something I can give to another.  I will continue to give to others until I am no longer mentally or physically able to do so.  As a young child, I discovered the secret in giving — however, it took me until about two years ago to contextualize a way to define why some people are so generous, while others can comfortably say they do not give to others or care to ever do a single random act of giving.  The Ten Dollar Test, from which The Ten Dollar Test blog has been established, is extremely accurate as to who has found the secret in giving.  Do you know what the secret in giving is?

The Ten Dollar Test and Random Acts of Giving blogs have been constructed and linked on hopes that both blogs will cause thousands to do random acts of giving and to discover the passion, compassion, gratification in giving. I kindly encourage you to first go to The Ten Dollar Test blog site, which will enable you to touch the lives of others. This site, Random Acts of Giving, is a blog site that I sincerely hope will inspire others to give like they have never given ever before, motivated by reading my experiences in giving to others. For only when you have discovered the secret in giving will your life and the lives of others be transformed forever! Again I ask you do you know the secret in giving?