When I eat out, save my leftovers for the homeless. When I eat in, cook that extra bit for the homeless. Do a seasonal clear out and give out the things I don’t need/want as presents. Volunteer my time to causes. Forgive more.
I can adopt a maximally minimalist lifestyle (minimalist to the max hehe) and donate the inevitable excess abundance to the most sensible organizations and parties. I try to embrace a minimalist life as naturally as possible, but to be even more generous, constant vigilance will be needed to ensure I am striving to the maximum potential of minimalist living while pumping abundance into environmental organizations and spiritual parties important to my spiritual life.
I can listen. Sometimes what people need most is to be seen, to be heard, to feel that someone recognizes who they are or what they are going through. It takes no money to listen, only time.
it is sometimes too easy to be generous. you see a list of items people need. food cupboard. homeless shelters. you give generously, but there are people out there who slip between the cracks. these are the ones I can be charitable with also. the person in front of you in the checkout that is a few dollars too short. someone scrambling for parking meter coins. you see someone's laundry in the dryer ready to stop. they are not around. drop in a coin or two. a mother or father running late at sc...
it is sometimes too easy to be generous. you see a list of items people need. food cupboard. homeless shelters. you give generously, but there are people out there who slip between the cracks. these are the ones I can be charitable with also. the person in front of you in the checkout that is a few dollars too short. someone scrambling for parking meter coins. you see someone’s laundry in the dryer ready to stop. they are not around. drop in a coin or two. a mother or father running late at school pickup time. sit and let your child play with them. I guess I do things like this as an unspoken generous ” I’ve got this” kindhearted gesture.
If I see that someone really wants something or has a deep desire, I can make sure I use what I have to help them get as close to that as possible. Furthermore, if I ever desire something, I can think about who else wants/needs that and give the little of that I have to someone.
I was burned badly from being a generous person in the past. For a few decades.. in my twenties and thirties I practiced radical generosity and did not question whether it was a good idea. Now in my late 40s, I’m broke and have no savings. So I don’t give like that anymore. I give very carefully to humanitarian organizations that have the best charity ratings and I give very sparingly of my resources and time person to person. I’ve had so much of my life squandered by people...I was burned...
I was burned badly from being a generous person in the past. For a few decades.. in my twenties and thirties I practiced radical generosity and did not question whether it was a good idea. Now in my late 40s, I’m broke and have no savings. So I don’t give like that anymore. I give very carefully to humanitarian organizations that have the best charity ratings and I give very sparingly of my resources and time person to person. I’ve had so much of my life squandered by people…I was burned badly from being a generous person in the past. For a few decades.. in my twenties and thirties I practiced radical generosity and did not question whether it was a good idea. Now in my late 40s, I’m broke and have no savings. So I don’t give like that anymore. I give very carefully to humanitarian organizations that have the best charity ratings and I give very sparingly of my resources and time face to face. I’ve had so much of my life squandered by people that I “gave” to. Oh and churches that I gave “religiously” to squandered the money, I see that now. So I give, but I give more carefully. Instead of giving directly to drug addicts, I give to orgs that help them recover their lives, etc. I’ve learned that I’m not a professional and I can’t help anyone recover from an addiction or psychological issues. I actually used to believe I could. Had a bad savior complex. I feel like my personal generosity is slightly less than it used to be, not much. It’s certainly less personal and less draining, but I feel okay about that. I have to take care of myself in the process or I can’t give anything to anyone. ????
I, too, have learned not to steal the opportunity for growth from others by filling needs that are their personal responsibility. We all must learn the consequences of our actions. This is especially hard with those we are closest to. In these times of so much need, I find it simplest to give to the animal innocents and the environment.
I am so sorry that you had to learn the hard way not to be “foolishly” generous. I am sorry that your good heart was taken advantage of so often. Good for you that you have learned and grown.
generosity is a trait that my mother passed on to me….
I am going to make some soup and bread for my friend who recently had a brain tumor.
she is doing miracousily well but like Kevin says, she has some needs unmet and has difficulty recognizing them and asking for help….
this friend has taught me how precious life is, and how vulnerable we all are…one moment she is sitting and the next she has a brain tumor.
although her cognitive abilities are comprised , she was able to say, we have to accept life for what it is given us….
I love visiting , she has horses, chickens, donkeys, cats, dogs….
we have had writing sessions with her horses at her barn
and I will always be thankful for the enormous warm hug she gave me when my mother died.
By trying to keep uppermost in mind not just all that I have, but how little many other people actually have and who seldom let on that they have significant needs unmet. Every now and then I realize that I missed an opportunity to help another person or be of service in some way because nothing was said outright, or seen visually. And frequently, the moment had passed and “going back” was not an option. It makes me feel disappointed in myself for not having been more aware and more present ...
By trying to keep uppermost in mind not just all that I have, but how little many other people actually have and who seldom let on that they have significant needs unmet. Every now and then I realize that I missed an opportunity to help another person or be of service in some way because nothing was said outright, or seen visually. And frequently, the moment had passed and “going back” was not an option. It makes me feel disappointed in myself for not having been more aware and more present to the actual moment.
The single thing I like best about myself is that I am a generous person: most especially spiritually and emotionally, but also materially, given the “small stock” I have been given.
I truly take pleasure and delight in others’ successes and happinesses and I would hope that this will continue. I don’t know how I can do it much “more” than I already do! It’s the thing I like most about myself.
When I eat out, save my leftovers for the homeless. When I eat in, cook that extra bit for the homeless. Do a seasonal clear out and give out the things I don’t need/want as presents. Volunteer my time to causes. Forgive more.
I can adopt a maximally minimalist lifestyle (minimalist to the max hehe) and donate the inevitable excess abundance to the most sensible organizations and parties. I try to embrace a minimalist life as naturally as possible, but to be even more generous, constant vigilance will be needed to ensure I am striving to the maximum potential of minimalist living while pumping abundance into environmental organizations and spiritual parties important to my spiritual life.
Sorry weird answer LOL!
I love passing along something to others that will bless them but which no longer blesses me. It’s a total win-win!
I can be more generous with my forgiveness
I can listen. Sometimes what people need most is to be seen, to be heard, to feel that someone recognizes who they are or what they are going through. It takes no money to listen, only time.
I would say that for me that is what counts the most……validation by someone listening
it is sometimes too easy to be generous. you see a list of items people need. food cupboard. homeless shelters. you give generously, but there are people out there who slip between the cracks. these are the ones I can be charitable with also. the person in front of you in the checkout that is a few dollars too short. someone scrambling for parking meter coins. you see someone's laundry in the dryer ready to stop. they are not around. drop in a coin or two. a mother or father running late at sc...
it is sometimes too easy to be generous. you see a list of items people need. food cupboard. homeless shelters. you give generously, but there are people out there who slip between the cracks. these are the ones I can be charitable with also. the person in front of you in the checkout that is a few dollars too short. someone scrambling for parking meter coins. you see someone’s laundry in the dryer ready to stop. they are not around. drop in a coin or two. a mother or father running late at school pickup time. sit and let your child play with them. I guess I do things like this as an unspoken generous ” I’ve got this” kindhearted gesture.
If I see that someone really wants something or has a deep desire, I can make sure I use what I have to help them get as close to that as possible. Furthermore, if I ever desire something, I can think about who else wants/needs that and give the little of that I have to someone.
By improving myself and letting myself go .. to freely give myself without the fear of pain.
I was burned badly from being a generous person in the past. For a few decades.. in my twenties and thirties I practiced radical generosity and did not question whether it was a good idea. Now in my late 40s, I’m broke and have no savings. So I don’t give like that anymore. I give very carefully to humanitarian organizations that have the best charity ratings and I give very sparingly of my resources and time person to person. I’ve had so much of my life squandered by people...I was burned...
I was burned badly from being a generous person in the past. For a few decades.. in my twenties and thirties I practiced radical generosity and did not question whether it was a good idea. Now in my late 40s, I’m broke and have no savings. So I don’t give like that anymore. I give very carefully to humanitarian organizations that have the best charity ratings and I give very sparingly of my resources and time person to person. I’ve had so much of my life squandered by people…I was burned badly from being a generous person in the past. For a few decades.. in my twenties and thirties I practiced radical generosity and did not question whether it was a good idea. Now in my late 40s, I’m broke and have no savings. So I don’t give like that anymore. I give very carefully to humanitarian organizations that have the best charity ratings and I give very sparingly of my resources and time face to face. I’ve had so much of my life squandered by people that I “gave” to. Oh and churches that I gave “religiously” to squandered the money, I see that now. So I give, but I give more carefully. Instead of giving directly to drug addicts, I give to orgs that help them recover their lives, etc. I’ve learned that I’m not a professional and I can’t help anyone recover from an addiction or psychological issues. I actually used to believe I could. Had a bad savior complex. I feel like my personal generosity is slightly less than it used to be, not much. It’s certainly less personal and less draining, but I feel okay about that. I have to take care of myself in the process or I can’t give anything to anyone. ????
I, too, have learned not to steal the opportunity for growth from others by filling needs that are their personal responsibility. We all must learn the consequences of our actions. This is especially hard with those we are closest to. In these times of so much need, I find it simplest to give to the animal innocents and the environment.
I am so sorry that you had to learn the hard way not to be “foolishly” generous. I am sorry that your good heart was taken advantage of so often. Good for you that you have learned and grown.
generosity is a trait that my mother passed on to me….
I am going to make some soup and bread for my friend who recently had a brain tumor.
she is doing miracousily well but like Kevin says, she has some needs unmet and has difficulty recognizing them and asking for help….
What a lovely thing for you to do, Gina.
this friend has taught me how precious life is, and how vulnerable we all are…one moment she is sitting and the next she has a brain tumor.
although her cognitive abilities are comprised , she was able to say, we have to accept life for what it is given us….
I love visiting , she has horses, chickens, donkeys, cats, dogs….
we have had writing sessions with her horses at her barn
and I will always be thankful for the enormous warm hug she gave me when my mother died.
It seems to be a daily, even moment to moment, quests, an ongoing challenge and opportunity..
Make sure I get my curriculum to more schools, teams, and organizations. Spread kindness w more actions.
By trying to keep uppermost in mind not just all that I have, but how little many other people actually have and who seldom let on that they have significant needs unmet. Every now and then I realize that I missed an opportunity to help another person or be of service in some way because nothing was said outright, or seen visually. And frequently, the moment had passed and “going back” was not an option. It makes me feel disappointed in myself for not having been more aware and more present ...
By trying to keep uppermost in mind not just all that I have, but how little many other people actually have and who seldom let on that they have significant needs unmet. Every now and then I realize that I missed an opportunity to help another person or be of service in some way because nothing was said outright, or seen visually. And frequently, the moment had passed and “going back” was not an option. It makes me feel disappointed in myself for not having been more aware and more present to the actual moment.
The single thing I like best about myself is that I am a generous person: most especially spiritually and emotionally, but also materially, given the “small stock” I have been given.
I truly take pleasure and delight in others’ successes and happinesses and I would hope that this will continue. I don’t know how I can do it much “more” than I already do! It’s the thing I like most about myself.
To genuinely take pleasure in another’s success is a real gift – for yourself and for the other person.
Thanks, Francine. Never thought it was for me too!
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