Engaging a World Rife with Dinscontent and Worry: How We Can Be Our Own Best Hope

In a recent article by Nicholas Kristoff for NYTimes.com’s ‘On the Ground’ blog about giving and it’s health benefits, Kristoff makes note that many people are apathetic or wary about giving. Whether giving back to their communities, or charitable giving in general – and I would add – participating in their societies as a whole, people often become caught up in the process rather than appreciate the experience. They begin to look upon it as a chore and at times, done almost begrudgingly.

In the hustle and bustle of life, with all of our daily stresses, compounded by external foes, which we have no control over (lay-offs, debt, recession, natural disasters like Haiti- to name only a few foes on many minds of late) we often times don’t think that making connections with others, helping our fellow man, can actually be rewarding not only to the recipient but to ourselves as well. Kristoff adds, “I also hope that young people won’t wait until retirement to find a cause; this is something that can animate your career, not follow it.”

In a time when “Millennials” or “Gen Nexters” are growing up with reputations of self-entitlement, they are also growing up in what reports have called the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Many are still at a point in life when optimism rules – According to the PEW Research Center for the People & the Press “Fully 76% of young adults believe their personal financial situation will improve over the course of the next year, compared with fewer than half of those ages 30 and older.”

Just as Ksritoff alludes in his Sunday Column, that the 65 year-old Black woman on dialysis, but who is respected by her family and is very involved in her community and giving, lives a happier life than the 36 year-old, successful and wealthy but stressed-out and lonely commodities trader, so too should we take a look at ourselves and remember what’s important: family, friends, connections with people, community engagement, giving.

At a time when traditional measures of success, like wealth and status have been rocked by a shaky economy and failing industries, perhaps we can take a hint from this and remember to help each other, and in turn give ourselves back a little hope.

If you want to find a way to give hope back, and engage your world so that people can help themselves and build upon their own futures, you can find more information HERE.