Reflections on Generosity

by Orly Wahba

Generosity doesn’t measure or take accounting. Generosity doesn’t wait to be repaid or cashed in at some opportune moment. True generosity is giving simply to give, loving simply to love, uplifting simply to uplift. When we consider whether we practice generosity in our day to day lives, it’s important to reflect and ask ourselves why we give and what do we expect to receive through giving. Only we can answer that very difficult question. We are all interconnected and the skills, talents, connections we have are not meant to be hoarded, they are meant to be shared. We are in fact meant to open our eyes, our hearts and our minds to solve this puzzle we call life. How can what I have in my toolbox, further the growth of the world in a positive way? This is the question we should in fact be answering as opposed to asking, “How will giving to so and so or doing something for so and so give back to me?” Giving in and of itself is a privilege, never forget it. By giving we become part of something far greater than ourselves, we become catalysts for positive change in the world, we in fact fulfill our life’s purpose. But if we fear that we can only give if we can clearly see the return, then we are in for a life of disappoint, frustration and ultimate collapse. The reason true generosity may seem unnatural is because it has been ingrained in us that if a situation isn’t a win win, then why give? But that couldn’t be further from the truth. We can’t see the larger puzzle of life, we aren’t privy to it. However what we can trust is that the actions of one individual has an impact on the life of another and so our choices to give or to walk away will in fact impact us at some point or another.

Over the month of generosity, contemplate where your generosity is coming from. Only through acknowledgement can we work to repair something within ourselves.