| At any given time in history, people have been willing | | | | small corner of the grocery budget to help buy food |
| extend help or assistance towards another person. | | | | for someone else. Or that you decided not to push a |
| Man is by nature, a social creature, who has more than | | | | new pair of shoe or designer pants to donate cash to |
| just the simple need to interact with others. A helping | | | | the victims of the recent killer earthquake in China. |
| or giving nature is innate in us, and this is the beauty of | | | | Instances like these showcase the immense capacity |
| kindness - it can cut across barriers of language, race, | | | | of the human heart for kindness. It is a reassuring fact |
| creed or social status. | | | | that despite the fast-paced and sometimes cut throat |
| We all feel good about helping. There is a satisfaction | | | | lives we live in, there will always be people who will |
| at the end of the day, from being able to do an act of | | | | stop what they're doing to help a brother or a sister |
| kindness or charity towards a fellow human being. It is | | | | who has fallen on hard times. |
| a feeling that brings a smile to our lips and gives an | | | | Time |
| extra spring in our steps the next day. We feel alive - | | | | Helping doesn't always require cash dole outs, in some |
| we feel human. | | | | occasions, your time and commitment is what's being |
| How to Make an Impact by Helping | | | | asked for. What would you say is the impact of |
| How may I help you? Can I do anything to help? | | | | volunteering to sit and talk with one or two old people |
| These are everyday questions we are asked by | | | | in a nursing home? |
| people interact with. And not just those who are in the | | | | They're well funded, so money is not a necessity. But |
| customer service business. Rather everyday people | | | | what makes in an impact to them is having someone |
| whom we probably don't pay much attention to during | | | | sit and chat with them for but a few hours each |
| the course of our day. | | | | week...to listen to them ramble about good old days |
| Yes, there is never a lack of willingness to help, just a | | | | that have gone by; allowing them to relive the follies of |
| catalyst to set the course of action and lay out what | | | | their youth and their love lives. |
| needs to be done. In the classroom setup for example, | | | | Time, the kind of help they need is for someone to |
| if a teacher asks students who would like to volunteer | | | | give them time. |
| to help a new student become familiar with the school | | | | Talent |
| facilities, there will always be volunteers. More often | | | | At the mention of talent a lot of people ask if we're |
| than not, the whole class volunteers because they | | | | referring to artists or musicians. Yes and No. Yes, |
| want to all make the newcomer feel welcome. | | | | because artists are one of the most generous |
| That single action will undoubtedly make a huge impact | | | | quarters of society - who are readily available to help |
| in the life of this young student - that he or she was | | | | in whatever way they can. Photographers, fashion |
| welcomed openly on the first day of school. That | | | | designers, painters, singers an musicians - they have |
| there were a lot of his peers willing to befriend have | | | | too many times, pulled fundraisers or held charity |
| probably melted away all his fears and anxieties of not | | | | concerts for the benefit a certain foundation. |
| being able to blend in with the rest of the crowd. | | | | Commendable acts indeed, but you too can do the |
| And we're just referring to a small act of kindness. | | | | same even if your talents aren't in the same |
| Imagine how much impact you can make if the | | | | magnitude. |
| practice is done everyday. | | | | If you're a homemaker and you're a whiz at the |
| The Three T's of Helping | | | | kitchen - that's talent. Or if you're a preschool teacher |
| On a larger scale, the act of helping involves time, | | | | whose extremely gifted in dealing with precocious |
| talent and treasure - this last one refers to money or | | | | kids- that's also talent. And perhaps there's nothing |
| resources of course, which is a primary consideration | | | | more noble than using our abilities to offer genuine and |
| why some people put off helping. | | | | sincere help to others. |
| While treasure or money is needed to purchase | | | | Shelters and soup kitchens are always in need of |
| different supplies, it is not the end-all and be all of | | | | volunteer cooks. Children in hospitals always welcome |
| helping. There are some with money to spare, others | | | | teacher volunteers for story time or play time. |
| have none. But at the end of the day, it is not how | | | | The whole point is doing what you can do and giving |
| large an amount you gave but the spirit of giving that | | | | what you are able to give to the best of your abilities. |
| counts. | | | | The impact of helping with all three Ts is infinite. |
| What's more important is that you were willing to cut a | | | | |