It’s Not About the Size of The Give

I’m sure we’ve all heard the phrase “it’s better to give than to receive,” but if you were to ask your co-workers, family, or friends what it means to give, and whether giving only makes an impact if it has monetary value, I’m sure each person would give you a different response, and it can be hard to identify the “right” way to give, and financial giving isn’t always an option for many families.

I personally believe that the best place to start giving is with simple acts of kindness: at some point in our lives, we have been – or will be – on the receiving end of an act of kindness, and the impact of that act can be huge. I have personally experienced that, no matter the “size of the give”, the simple act of support can help someone navigate through a difficult situation or hardship they were experiencing.

In the same vein, giving to your community and taking time to extend a helping hand is not just about monetary donations, it doesn’t have to be a big gesture or a large financial gift, instead, it’s the small things that are most impactful, such as taking time to volunteer. I find volunteering to be very rewarding, and the joy I get from the time spent supporting those in need brings so much happiness and gratitude to my heart. Working with people in my community, and connecting with other volunteers, learning about them and their ideas impact my outlook on life.

I have found that regardless of who you are or what you do, there are always creative and new ways of becoming involved in your community, using what you have to help others. Helping your community is an opportunity for you to grow as an individual, to better understand how you fit into the world around you.

I encourage everyone who is able if they can volunteer in their community with a cause they feel strongly about. Perhaps you can participate in a student reading program, assist an elderly person in your neighborhood with a task, volunteer at a food pantry, or just ask a friend, co-worker, or family member, “how I can support you today?” Sometimes giving is just a listening ear or a smile on a day where nothing seems to be going right.

My advice to other people looking to find their fit with giving is: whatever you decide to do, and however you decide to do it, always be reminded that as long as you are giving from your heart it doesn’t matter the size of the “give”.