There was a great item in yesterday’s Guardian:
“Wales has clambered aboard the Obama bandwagon with the disclosure
that one of the US president-elect’s schoolteachers was Welsh. Bill
Messer, who left to live in Hawaii 40 years ago, can lay claim to preparing
the 17-year-old Barack Obama for university entrance 30 years ago.
‘He was completely normal and nothing about him suggested he would
one day be US president,’ he told the Western Mail.”
Well, I just loved that. Not only did it make me laugh on that dull early January morning, but it led my brain down all sorts of unexpected paths, mainly having to do with “you never know.” No matter what things seem to be, no matter what you’re faced with, you never know what the effect of your actions might be. And this all led me to think about philanthropy.
I don’t have to tell you that the whole world is holding onto their pursestrings for dear life. Everyone is frightened about the state of the world’s economy. No one is sure what all this will mean for them personally. But there is one thing I am sure of. Despite our dwindling bank accounts and all the doom and gloom, we all, everyone, must continue to find a way to give. If life will be tough for us, just think what will happen to that world of non-profits and charities and their beneficiaries if we use the scariness of 2009 as an excuse to turn our backs. There are many ways to give. It doesn’t have to be money, although money, even in small amounts, helps. We can give time, expertise, energy, ideas, resources both personal and physical. Small businesses can help local charities by providing transport or computer expertise or printing. Individuals can dig through their closets, help plant gardens, write newsletters. It doesn’t matter how. It doesn’t matter to whom. But if everyone chose one thing they cared about and found a way to help, be it social, health, artistic, educational, we would make it through the uncertainties of the new year not just well, but perhaps even better than ever. Maybe I’ve been living in Britain too long. Maybe I’ve spent too many hours watching WWII documentaries on The History Channel. Or maybe I’m still awash in the wonder of Obama’s victory. But this is my final resolution of the season. Want to join me?
“But if everyone chose one thing they cared about and found a way to help, be it social, health, artistic, educational, we would make it through the uncertainties of the new year not just well, but perhaps even better than ever.”
This is so true, Sue. And I’ll join you, I have closets of clothes I no longer need and piles of books I’ll never read again.
Count me in! It’s too easy to assume that money is all that is needed.
I’m with you on this one. I’ve also given you an award over on my Chez Aspie blog. xo
Michelle: How wonderful! And especially for you to be thinking of others now when, if I’m correct, you’re going through your own difficult family time right now. What an enormous heart you have. xo
The Dot:You’re so right, and actually, it’s all so easy and it makes you feel so good!
Deej: Thanks! My 1st award! I’m so excited. I’ll go check it out right now!!!
That’s a brilliant resolution. I work for a volunteering charity and we ask people to give time not money and however bad things are financially we can all do that. Thanks for such a thought-provoking post.
And thanks to you, Helen!
That’s so great! Count me in. Actually I volunteered my assistance to a small start up NGO just a few weeks ago – if I can help, I will. And old clothes regularly go out to those in need and we support the local tramp with food each week. I think it’s a fundamental part of being human that we do these things. Besides, we need to maintain our humanity after the greedfest that has seen this radical market “correction”. Now, if ever, is the time for our humanity to shine through. It’s about being a mensch really, isn’t it.
Amen to that Sue!!! Volunteering is something I feel very very strongly about!! When I arrived in Thailand I was astonished to discover that there was no easy way of volunteering here so I set up a scheme where Thai charities were able to utilise the skills of the ex-pat wives that were unable to work here due to work permit regulations. Last year we had over 100 volunteers go out across Bangkok and most of them worked two or three days a week for their chosen charity!!
I will, of course, be volunteering once I’m back in the UK 🙂
C x