“Real generosity is doing something nice for someone who will never find out.” –Frank A. Clark
Oh, how time does pass. We so often give it away to the trivial yet wonder profoundly where it went.
This blog has been idle the past few months, but here is a link to another blog I started last summer. It’s a weekly post with ideas about how to improve your listening, observation, and evaluation skills – designed to be read in about a minute or two.
https://listenobserveevaluate.wordpress.com
In case you’re wondering, I’m still giving my time.
Over the past six months, I’ve given a few dozen workshops on evaluation. I’m also building a Toastmasters Speakers Bureau in the Portland, Oregon region as a free community service. I continue to volunteer when I make time. I’ve been a coach at Future Stars Toastmasters for the past few years and continue to give my Saturday mornings to those bright, aspiring students. I’m still president of Feedbackers Toastmasters. Supporting my parents who are in assisted living has become a virtual second job for this only child. Our kids are all teenagers now and supporting them takes as much time as a third job (but doesn’t really feel like it). I try to help my wife out as much as possible – dishes, laundry, yard work, housework, etc. Oh yeah, then there’s that work thing. Above all though, I simply try to find ways to help others.
Many times over the past few years, when I look at how my life has changed – and it has been a deep, philosophical paradigm shift – I remember the Resolve to Give Challenge – over 800 days of giving time to someone and/or my community everyday. Then, it was a challenge. Today, it’s a habit.
That’s my update. Apologies for the entirely self-focused post, but I’m still here. I hope you are giving your time, focused on what you can do for others. If you are, please know that helping another person is never trivial, takes great courage, and helps you far more than you might think. At least I believe it.
We can’t really make a difference in the world if we don’t start making a difference in our little corner of it.
Give Our Time 