“If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share.”
— W. Clement Stone
Bizarre and violent weather patterns this year have left a wide swath of damage in many parts of the nation as tornadoes, fires and flooding take their toll. Without fail, in every crisis, countless people quickly respond by sharing their time, their resources and their compassion.
From bringing blankets, food, water and clothing to rounding up displaced pets until they can be reunited with their families to helping to cover medical costs, the generosity of these Samaritans goes a long way in helping a stricken community heal.
A famous line from The Mr. Rogers Parenting Book is frequently quoted in challenging situations: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
This generosity of spirit cuts across all age barriers. Another powerful example of openhearted compassion this year centers on a 5-year-old with inoperable brain cancer. Doctors have given the boy only months to live, and his parents made the tough decision to take him out of kindergarten.
When the only thing he wanted for his 6th birthday was cards, his unselfish wish went viral. Over 100,000 people responded immediately, and the delighted youngster has been seen on the national news sitting in mail bins stacked with well wishes, and climbing over piles of envelopes. Other children around the nation also responded, wielding crayons to create personalized construction paper cards adorned with hearts and angels. The generous outpouring of compassion has made the child’s remaining months joyful ones.
Moving stories of previously mind-mannered people suddenly stepping forth and putting others first serves a dual purpose. It not only confirms the innate goodness of others; it kindles an urge in all who learn of their deeds to likewise be of service. Generosity of spirit, it’s been scientifically proven, is catching. Even if we feel we ourselves don’t have enough, when we see others reaching out, we’re willing to go the extra mile to help someone else, too.
In this season of bringing in the harvest and celebrating our blessings, it’s an ideal time to think about new ways we can share our own spirit of generosity, without waiting for a crisis to trigger a desire to help.
Identify a cause you feel passionate about, and go on-line to find local opportunities to share your time and get involved. Everyone probably has at least a few books you’re not going to read again. See if your local library or school could use them. Buy an extra bag of dog food and donate one to an animal shelter. When you let your friends know what you’re doing, they’ll be motivated to get involved, too.
If the OHI healthy lifestyle program has enriched your own body, mind and spirit, you might want to consider sharing that gift with someone else through a donation to the OHI Scholarship fund. Every dollar you share goes directly into a scholarship, and every donation is 100% tax deductible.
Learn more about how generosity enriches everyone it touches at the Optimum Health Institute in San Diego and Austin, Texas. We can help you achieve your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual goals for optimal health. Visit our website at www.optimumhealth.org , and call us at (800) 993-4325 to make your reservation.
