Being generous is an attribute that I value highly in myself and others. I'm not just talking from a monetary perspective but I mean generous with time, thought and deed.
How much do you give of yourself to others? Maybe the answer is that you give of yourself too much, if you are a parent, you never stop giving of yourself to your children especially when they are young. If you are a woman in particular then no doubt you feel like you rarely get any opportunity for selfishness.
I know for me sometimes, I become so consumed by my circumstances, routine, rituals, thoughts and old patterns that I forget to be generous and considerate towards the people I love and the world at large. I can literally forget about someones birthday, or that a friend that has been sick or suffering or pick up the phone and say hi to my elderly grandmother.
It can be very difficult sometimes when you get stuck in your own agenda to remember that the moments that count come from how much you can give of yourself freely without the need for recognition or acknowledgment. Just knowing that your present and engaged in the life of someone else can mean so much.
Volunteering is one way that I get myself back on course again when I feel like I need to start living more lightly again. I volunteer regularly for an organisation called Look Good Feel Better, its a program offered to women who have been through cancer treatment and it allows them to come into the community centre for the day and get a pamper session. Often these women feel defeated and hopeless after treatment has left them with a physical reminder of their cancer and their immortality. They are given a tutorial on how to apply makeup (and supplied with all the products they could need, to take home) and then we offer them the opportunity to try on various wigs in different colours and lengths to help them feel a little more feminine again. Its lots of fun to see the women light up at the end of the session after really get involved in the process.
The first time I went along as a volunteer, it was very confronting for me, to see other women my age with young children to look after going through what must be described as your worst nightmare. I wasn't sure if emotionally I could handle it, I mean I wasn't going to be a great help if I was breaking down in tears every time I showed up. But as the time went on I found I developed a great respect for these women who weren't getting bogged down in their stories, they were strong, determined women who were not going to let cancer stop them from living their lives in the most meaningful ways.
Another way I like to express generosity is through sponsorship of my 2 compassion children from Uganda. My eldest sponsor child has been sponsored by our family for the past 11 years. We have had the privilege of being able to watch him grow from a wispy little 8 year old into a young man, who is out making a living and providing for his family. Last year we took on another child, a 5 year old girl. We receive letters from them regularly and my kids write to them about their lives in Australia.
It doesn't cost a lot to sponsor a child however there have been times when I have had to consider if we could keep up the financial responsibility due pressures and financial hardship of our own. However I believe that as long as I can afford to go to my local café and purchase my regular large almond milk cappuccino that I can afford to give someone else an opportunity for a better life. We have so much compared to some people living on this earth. We have so much money, wealth, materialism and opportunity. We complain, but what the fuck have we got to complain about. Really, seriously. There are no excuses, we are just greedy, we all are. What would we know about poverty, about going without. We have everything we want at the flick of a switch, touch of a button and when that's no enough we find ways to do things better, faster and easier. We are the ultimate consumers and still we see people living on the streets, communities of people with no clean water, no food, no access to healthcare or any of the comforts that we take for granted.
I am very passionate this as I am sure you can tell! so I try to live my life with an attitude of gratitude. I am thankful everyday for the blessings that I have been given. For the life I have been fortunate enough to have and I take opportunities to give freely when I am able.
I encourage you to look around and take notice of the people you see that could benefit from your kindness. It might be stopping to help someone with their heavy shopping trolley, offering to mow your neighbours lawn while you are doing yours, make an extra meal for someone you know that's doing it tough and give them a night off cooking.
If you need more inspiration, have a look at my brand new facebook page with the same title tell-it-like-ange and see my link to the "wake up project" which is the brainchild of Jono fisher. His free kindness cards are a brilliant way for you to give anonymously and have some fun with it.
I used one of my cards last year to leave money at my local hairdresser so that someone special could get their hairdressing services free of charge. The owners of the salon, told me later that the lady they chose to gift it too burst into tears. It was very humbling. I encourage you to give it a go and get creative.
Giving to others can take courage because we instinctively want to protect our own needs and security but believe me, if you can give freely without hesitation or personal gain you will find that you will be the one that receives the greatest gift of all. The gift of knowing that you have changed someone's life even in the smallest way.
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