On reflection of Giving Tuesday I thought about the real meaning of what giving is and I looked up its definition. This is what I found…
“The art of giving is simply defined as giving from the heart without any expectation of something in return. True giving and happiness are deeply connected and they both come from a place deep within our souls. A gift, no matter how small or large, is something that is enjoyed twice.”
I couldn’t put it in better words. Giving truly is a gift that is enjoyed twice, once by the giver and once by the receiver.
The Giving Tuesday movement began In 2012 with a lofty goal: to make giving more central to people’s lives. It follows Black Friday which is the Friday right after Thanksgiving Day in the United States and has been routinely the busiest shopping day of the year.
But why is there a Giving Tuesday?
Thanksgiving by its definition is a time to give thanks and to realize how fortunate some of us are. I say some because we all know there are indeed many, many people and organizations who are struggling and really need help and that is where Giving Tuesday found its purpose.
Simply stated, Giving Tuesday celebrates generosity. It can be giving of time, giving of effort, giving of money and giving of support in whatever form that may take. Around the world, across diverse giving cultures in over 70 countries and hundreds of communities it has been built into a collective generosity engine. Doing good deeds makes one feel good.There is no indication that this wave of good deeds is going away anytime soon and this Giving Tuesday it will be up to us to once again make a positive difference in our community, in our country and in our world.
So let’s capture the spirit of giving and engage with each other on this November 30th – Giving Tuesday and give a gift to those who are in need. Remember those around you who toil to make a better world for all of us and give them a helping hand because a gift truly is enjoyed twice.
If you’d like to learn how you can participate in Giving Tuesday, and help your local community, click here!