Mary Schmidt Marketing Troubleshooter

NYT: In Month of Giving, A Healthy Reward.

There’s no question that it gives life a greater meaning when we make this kind of shift in the direction of others and get away from our own self-preoccupation and problems,” said Stephen G. Post, director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care and Bioethics at Stony Brook University on Long Island and a co-author of “Why Good Things Happen to Good People” (Broadway, 2007). “But it also seems to be the case that there is an underlying biology involved in all this.”

One reason I give and volunteer is that it makes me feel good (totally selfish, heh?) For example, emptying my spare change from the car into the Salvation Army bucket. (I keep between $5 and $10 tucked away for parking, lunches, etc.) I’ll never miss it and it helps. It’s also gratifying and motivating to chat with the happy man ringing the bell on a frigid day.

Of course, giving doesn’t have to involve your spare change. It can be as simple as letting the other person have the last word (always hard for me)…or the last piece of cake (ditto).

OR…

Saying “thank you” and meaning it. (Here in the U.S. it’s become a meaningless reflex.)

Being respectful of your waiter or waitress even (especially) if they are surly and inefficient. (You try dealing with a jackass boss, dirty tables, a crazy cook and hurting feet.)

Holding doors for the person behind you (and I mean holding. Not the half-hearted backward palm on the rapidly closing door.)

Letting a tired Mom cut in front of you in line (and holding the door for her as she maneuvers that cart with the babies.)

All of which I did this week – and should always do. But, I get so involved in my oblivious, busy! busy! bubble of a life…I sometimes forget that giving is good for me.