Featured image: Give by Thomas Hawk

In a society where we are sometimes embedded in putting ourselves first, where “me, myself, and I” are the greatest priority in our lives, we may fail to see where “I” fits within the community around us. When I see people so ready and proud to tell the world “I have to take care of myself first,” I can’t help but feel a slight sense of sadness. While I agree to an extent (you certainly can’t pour anything out of an empty cup; you should definitely take care of yourself in order to give), such a strong notion of always putting yourself first might take out a very important element that oftentimes comes with the word “give:” sacrifice. The very act of giving is sacrificial – whether that may be of your time, money, or interests. In order for a community to always flourish, there will be times in which “I” will need to stand for something other than “myself.”

“I” for “Include”

Although some of us may be introverts or “anti-social,” at some point in time we may enjoy the company of others (even if that means just one person in your life that you can stand to be around 🙂). By nature, we are relational creatures, and if there was no interaction within our communities then we wouldn’t have one! When you choose to give your time to help a cause or someone in need, you include those who need our interaction the most – you make then an important part of our society, even if their circumstances may lead them to feel hopeless. This might mean giving up that golf outing with your friends, or that weekend you had set aside for an awesome full-body massage – for your community that needs you! There are people out there that will thank you for including them in your busy schedule and letting them know that they matter.

“I” for “Impress”

As I briefly stated before, some of our people in need oftentimes feel hopeless. When we decide to give to our community in a sacrificial way, the love behind that very sacrifice impresses hope on those who need it most. You give them hope that there are people who care, hope that they are not alone, and hope that they will conquer whatever they are going through. Even if you’re volunteering for a cause that seems fairly generic on the surface, the “behind the scenes” of it all is always much greater. Additionally, a great thing about this impression of hope on others is that it’s reciprocal; you also become hopeful! Giving to your community and to those in need has the awesome effect of changing us for the better: we become more hopeful for our society, we become more empathetic, more motivated to be involved, and we become more loving; all great attributes that are needed in a great society.

“I” for “Inspire”

            Did you know that giving is contagious? This is especially true when you are willing to sacrifice something of your own in order to do it. Sacrifice shows caring, it shows commitment, willingness, and it shows love. All of these things make those around you think to themselves: “I guess if he/she can do it, I can do it too.” The result: More people are inspired to contribute, bringing our society that much closer as a whole. When I think of inspiration in this sense, I like to think of my marriage. Do I always feel like loving my husband? No – sometimes he annoys the heck out of me. Nevertheless, it is during those times that I try my best to demonstrate my love for him anyway, even though I really might not want to (i.e. sacrificial love; purposeful love). What usually happens is that he’s inspired to love me back, and vice versa. Are we always perfect following this “sacrificial-loving” rule? No, but I notice that when we do, it always works out for the best; we never regret it. The take-away from this: the same way that marriage needs self-sacrifice in order to work in harmony, our society will also need our sacrifice in order to work in unity. Sacrificial giving inspires more giving! 🙂

“I” for “Improve”

            It is no surprise that when we work together, we improve together. I’m drawn to think of the phrase “there’s no ‘I’ in team,” but this is my way of showing you otherwise 😉. Volunteering and giving are some of the great ways in which we work as a team and contribute towards the improvement of our society. We have to keep in mind that we are all in this together – I know, cliché, but very true! Think about your children (if you have them), and the example that you set for them (or anyone who looks up to you); by sacrificing part of yourself for the benefit of others, you’re teaching them that it is not always about “me.” And, of course, what comes out of this teaching is a future society of self-giving citizens, willing to help each other when needed, deviating any sense of entitlement and selfishness that may otherwise form (are you with me yet?). In other words, children are our future, and we are the guide they need for the purpose of improving our world – I am rocking it with the clichés, aren’t I?

“I” for “Interconnect”

            The very last “I” in “Sacrificial Giving” is for interconnection. Everything that I’ve touched on in this piece shows the many ways in which we are all interconnected with each other. I truly don’t mean to sound all gushy, although I think I’ve outdone myself here (I blame it on the entire goopy, Valentine’s Day atmosphere), but it is so important to not forget this essential fact. The truth is that we need each other; we need each other for strength, encouragement, success, and our overall well-being. The minute we forget this truth and begin to drift into the “I come first” state of mind, that’s the moment we begin to lose sight of what we need: connection. This being said, by all means make sure that you take care of yourself (and do put your family first), but when you can, try to “care for yourself” also as a means of preparation for giving your help to those who need you. You’ll be surprised how much greater it is to give than to receive; you will not regret making a difference every now and again. 🙂

P.S.

I hope you had a great Valentine’s Day!

By Nayadee Wilson