Connecting to others through giving
Image: Beliefnet
Give, give, give—what is the point of having experience, knowledge, or talent if I don’t give it away? Of having stories if I don’t tell them to others? Of having wealth if I don’t share it? I don’t intend to be cremated with any of it! It is in giving that I connect with others, with the world, and with the divine.
I was very struck today while reading these beautiful words from novelist Isabel Allende from a book called This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women, edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman. I am so taken with Allende’s belief in giving as a way of connecting, because it is how I wish to live my life. It is the reason behind setting up this blog; it is the reason I work as a breast cancer advocate in my community. I believe so passionately, as I have said many times before, in the power of the sister and brotherhood of experience, or as I heard this weekend at the LiveStrong Global Cancer Summit, the “obligation of the cured”. Those of us who have walked the path of cancer have so much to give back to others on the same journey. That is how I find meaning in my cancer experience.
Is it the same for you? Do you connect with the world through your giving? What are some of the ways you do this? Share your story here.
You only have what you give. It’s by spending yourself that you become rich ~ Isabel Allende
I find it interesting JBBC, that the ones who have lost a part of them to cancer are the ones that find it most important to give.
There are so many people in the world, untouched by poverty, illness, cancers that don’t even consider giving to be part of a happy healthy life. And yet the people who have lost the most find that, that is what life is about.
Thank you for sharing this story- so true. Giving, loving, sharing is part of why we exist, the foundation is love and these actions are our frames.
You Rock Pinkie!
Owning Pink
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thank you so much for your comment and support 🙂
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You sure live according to that credo. You manage to give so much through “cold” media like Twitter and FaceBook that I can only imagine how giving you are as a cancer advocate in yor own community. You manage to enriche our lives through your Tweets and blogs and I love you dearly for that. I can only wish I can do the same a bit, not even close to you! Thank you for all you do and are
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This is a topic always close to our hearts; in giving away everything somehow we are filled, we are fueled. I believe this ethic is the goodness at the heart of all religions; if we could all agree on this essential truth, truly, our world would be a better place.
The writer Isabel Allende would know. Not only has she enriched the world by pouring heart and soul into her fiction, she also suffered the excruciating loss of a child to suicide. Yet she continues to write, to give.
Thank you, as always Marie, for starting another wonderful conversation.
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I agree with all my heart! I came to Bali to give my time and energy as a grant writer for a birth centre for poor families. And I’ve found that giving becomes a supremely ‘selfish’ act in the end, you get so much back! I’ve gotten material for a book, a writing mentor, wonderful friendships, a fledgling life as a full-time writer, a foster daughter (see my blog http://www.lizsinclair.com/blog) and a wonderful man to love! I am so blessed, so lucky, happy, and fulfilled, and it all came to me because I gave something back first. The more we give, the more we get.
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Love today’s thought on giving! Thanks for sharing! I am definately going to have to check out that book.
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I since surviving Breast Cancer have dedicated much of my time to helping to raise awareness and by fund raising too for 2 great charitable organisations. I take part in Race for Life which is to raise funds for Cancer Research. I also am an active fund raiser for a local charity called Breast Friends of Solihull, they are a volunteer group, many of the women have gone through Breast Cancer and they offer support to others going through it!
I also play an active role in my local Greek Orthodox Church Community raising money for Cancer related charities and offering support to anyone going through cancer.
I find it rewarding to know I in a small way can perhaps make a big difference!
Materialistic things don’t mean a thing without health and happiness!
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Thank you all for your beautiful comments. I am grateful for all that you do to connect both to me and to others – you are a gift to the world x
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wow what a great community of comments – really enjoying your regular commentators each post…
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Great post Marie, really inspiring. I guess too, that if people give with the time and experiences, it is of the most benefit to others as whether people are struggling with cancer, infertility, bereavement, whatever, it helps most to talk to someone who has been through a similar experience.
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A lovely post.
Well I think I give people hope. Only the other day in Dublin the taxi driver was telling me his wife has just been diagnosed with cancer.
I was able to tell him about my mum who fought bowel cancer 7 years ago. She’s now fit and well and at 73 has more energy then I do.
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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment magnumlady – i know you DO give hope with your own and your family’s story too – you are also a light in this world – hope all is going well this week – thinking of you and yours x
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Thanks for sharing Marie. I find that focusing on giving to others during our most difficult times can help us find a way through. It is the essence of being human and searching for connection through caring for others.
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Beautiful post – and beautiful comments too. thanks for posting
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