Giving on Tuesday and Beyond

I believe in giving.??

I?believe in giving my knowledge because it's my legacy. If I help others, the experience and lessons I've learned will have an increased impact.

I believe in giving my time because there is something precious in taking action, like saving a homeless pup. Knowing your efforts helped someone who could never pay it back, although they usually try in kisses. A friend called it an endorphin rush. It feels good to do good.

Sometimes when I feel like crud because life happens, I look back at the dogs who now lead happy lives because of me. Dogs who likely otherwise wouldn't have made it. I check out the Facebook feeds of my friends' rescues, who started their own life-saving because they saw what I did and said - I can do this. They have now saved hundreds and thousands of lives. They were fosters who complained they didn't have promising avenues for adopting out their foster dogs, so I talked to some pet stores and organized events. We shared advertising strategies we tried. We set up vetting clinics. I wasn't a rescue. I didn't even know what I was doing. My lack of knowledge and experience but willing to step up and fail inspired others to do it better. And better they did. I'm so proud of that, even if it may not make me look all that great.?

I give money, primarily through my company's giving program, because they do a company match, and I love seeing my money go further. I'm sure the rescues and other organizations also like to receive double the funds. Sometimes I give the homeless money or food because everyone can use a hand-up. However, it can be challenging because I rarely have cash on hand. I find that with money, it disappears, and I don't know where it went, so I don't often carry it. With credit cards, I can check the damage later.

I didn't always give. I didn't have the money or the time when I was younger. I was barely making ends meet.??Back then, the best thing I could do was give myself some self-care and grace. I was doing the best I could with what I had. Now I can, I do.?

I give because I want to see a better world and believe that to have it, we need to create it. Like Tom Hanks said in the Mr. Rogers movie, "Look for the helpers," because they are willing to make the world they want to see.?