“It is not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” – Mother Teresa
This post was originally published on a different site on 12/20/2023. Heads up – you may have already read this.
My eight-year-old daughter and I were hurrying into a store to grab a couple of holiday things the other day. When she asked about the Salvation Army bell ringer out front, I gave her a couple of dollars to put in the pot. She was hesitant so we did it together. As she wiggled the bills into the slot, the bell ringer paused for a moment and asked, “Do you know what this money goes for?”
My daughter shook her head “no.”
The bell ringer leaned in to look her right in the eye, and said, “If people don’t have money for rent or to buy food or money for presents, it’ll help.”
My daughter replied, “So people can buy toys for their kids!” and walked away smiling.
The Greater Good lab at Berkeley offers some research back evidence that there are five ways giving is transformative.
- Giving makes us feel happy
- Giving is good for our health
- Giving promotes cooperation and social connection
- Giving evokes gratitude
- Giving is contagious
And there’s a bonus reason as well. Research shows that people that donate money earn MORE the next year. It’s not that there is a cosmic hand that makes it so (not to say there isn’t a cosmic hand but the research doesn’t prove it one way or another, of course!). But the explanation was that it makes us feel so good that we are more happy and effective at our jobs. How’s that for lining up giving and our self-interest?
So, if you are looking for a way to earn more at your job next year, let me suggest the Fulginiti Family Trio’s holiday song fundraiser led by Todd Fulginiti. You get to both listen to a great song and help a good cause addressing homelessness in Lancaster, PA.
I hope that all the giving of the season is leaving you feeling healthy, happy, grateful, and connected!
(featured photo from Pexels)
Surprised By Joy 