Giving back - it’s a requirement, not a luxury.
When speaking with an acquaintance on life goals and plans, I can clearly recall the moment he described an elaborate 30yr plan. It was detailed and structured, a clear pathway from today until retirement. What struck me was when he ended on something along the lines of “Then I will give back”.
What a strange existence we are all living in when our world is required to provide for us for several decades until we deem it possible (If ever?) to consider giving back to it. From what I am observing, the world is divided and, despite living in a society, we are hidden away in silos. The world doesn’t exist for us to take and take and remain hidden. We must remember that we are social creatures that survived purely due to our relationships and communities, villages and tribes. Resources pooled, skills and time shared.
Today we have adapted, but not mastered, living and acting alone whilst still being an active member of the community. We are selfish in many ways, and I don’t deem that to be bad, but life needs to come with balance.
I think, in the story earlier, people are under the impression that giving back can only happen through monetary means and this can only be achieved once we have our own financial needs sorted first. I believe this to be so far off track it is almost funny. What I have leant, first hand, is that money doesn’t create change or solve problems - time, energy and work do.
I urge you to consider contributing to a greater cause today - not in the future, today. How can we - even with our busy lives and schedules, give back whilst still achieving our own goals and meeting the needs of our own commitments? To me, the answer is quite simple, something as simple as integrating one small thing into your week that is toward a cause you are interested in. It doesn’t need to cost you a cent.
We are human, protectors of this planet whether we choose to believe it or not. We owe the world a piece of our conscious and our heart thanks to having been given the gift of life in the first place. So, how are you going to do something small that makes your patch of grass a little greener?
