Image is mine
I give in in the most little of ways yet impactful. When it comes to giving, I find a way to make it sustainable because that is how I would love to be gifted too.
There are people who feel they need to attain a certain level or societal status before they can give, but in the true sense of giving, you can give from any position or situation in life. This I learned from three Northerners I came across in my life's journey.
Both were females who do not mind giving all they own as long as it makes the other person happy. There was a time I was job hunting, and one of them advised me to withdraw all the money in my bank account and gift it to the less privileged so that life could reward me with a job.
Basically, she believed that in giving, she receives, and it has been working for her. But it's not like that with me because then I become expectant, anxious, and eventually, I miss out on the satisfaction of having done something valuable for the next person.
So, when I give, I don't give at my expense; I make sure I am happy doing it and not because I am expecting compensation from life.
My third Northern friend, who is a male, showed me how life presents us with experiences so that we can learn and in turn give counsel to people who need it. He made me understand that one of the best forms of giving is a listening ear.
There were times I got really overwhelmed, and at that point I just wanted to rant and have someone listen to me genuinely. Having been in such situations, I am always ready to be that listener who doesn't invalidate the other person's feelings. I listen with care and intent so that I can give words of encouragement if necessary.
My quest to give more to my community on a bigger platform led me to my first NGO job as a welfare officer. A job that I loved so much, and I really enjoyed doing it because it gave me a sense of purpose.
During that time, I felt I was part of something great, and indeed I was. I was not just going to the downtrodden with relief materials; I was constantly thinking of programs and executing projects to better their lives.
From my experience at the NGO job and my profession as an economist, I was able to make so many reforms when it came to charitable works. Amongst which were skill acquisition programs, temporary adoption of underprivileged children, and scholarships for the academically inclined.
At a point, I became a consultant, and during those times, it was more about what I could give and little about what I could get. I gave a lot of me mentally, and never for once did I regret it because in the end, I didn't just gather the experiences; it paid off. Gladly so, I went from a small giver to something major.