Pamela Hawley is founder and CEO of UniversalGiving.

We all remember a time when we were hit with the importance of getting involved globally. For me, I was 12. We were on a family vacation in Mexico, near a traditional marketplace. My father and I wandered off, confronted with a cul-de-sac of unwashed, handicapped, begging children. Having my eyes widened with disbelief and overwhelming sadness, I simply remember the word UNACCEPTABLE flashing across my mind. I still feel it and see that word all the time. It’s simply not okay that millions are starving. Not only can we help, but we also have a lot to learn. I never realized how much I would receive when I first started giving.

Pamela on her volunteer trip to Guatemala.

Motivated by my experience in Mexico, I started volunteering at the age of 12. As an adult, I’ve been able to take on larger volunteer projects, all across the world: fostering microfinance in India, working with paraplegics in Cambodia, with farmers in Guatemala and with earthquake survivors in El Salvador. It’s been much of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had in life. It’s provided perspective. It’s instilled an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Every morning I call myself to action, reminding myself that every day we can do something to help someone else. If you want to get involved now, you can check out UniversalGiving. There are some great ways you can donate or volunteer all across the world.

Truly important is realizing that along our pathway of giving, we are helped as well. I sincerely believe that we who give financially receive much in return. For example, this gift we receive might be in renewed appreciation for our health. Or perhaps the realization that we should relinquish some of the material possessions which are distancing us from what we truly value. For me, I am reminded first of the importance of family, and second, the direct connection to life.

Regarding family, I remember learning about the solidity and honor that many developing countries and communities place on tradition, roots and family history. We may be amazed how families stick together, work together, and care for one another. We are and will be challenged as to our views on the elderly; most countries wouldn’t think of putting an elderly parent or grandparent in a lonely, sterilized “old folks’ home.” Families take them in. They care for the elderly as they were cared for as children. Elders are respected for their wisdom and for their experiences in life. They are consulted regularly and included in family. Even their simple, quiet presence is cherished.

We have a lot to learn.

I was also so inspired by “the direct connection to life.” Often a developing community may be financially impoverished, but rich in the value of daily experience. The slowing down of life. Spending significant, face-to-face time with family members. Taking time to celebrate people, occasions, or history. And one of my favorites, which we often overlook, being directly connected to nature and the earth. For example, many people in developing nations grow their food, and connect with the earthy directly. We in developed nations go to grocery stores for our food. We are separated from the process of nature: understanding the investment of time and energy, seeing food grow, cherishing the accomplishment of hard work to produce food from a seed. It may be in the name of efficiency, but not in the value of life experience, or healthy food, or lessons learned about nature. We jump over important life lessons. Through our giving, volunteering, or any type of service, we learn to fully connect again, fully appreciate, and relish the whole beauty of each interaction.

Often in the United States, we are consumed by efficiency. We place value on going quicker and getting things done as our highest good, which pulls us away from the meaningful and into what I would call “luxury troubles.” These luxury troubles are the barriers to our efficiency. Our Treo breaks. We were late to a meeting because of traffic. Or perhaps we are annoyed that the grocery line is taking so long….Still, they are luxury troubles. They are minor inconveniences compared to what is happening in 70% of the rest of our world. And if we don’t take time to slow down and appreciate the processes throughout life, we can miss value, meaning, learning. We miss building great, meaningful relationships with families and friends, as well as nature and our world.

I’m not saying it’s easy. It’s just a gentle wake-up call to be mindful of our choices, and the value they bring to one’s life. Keeping periodic, regular giving and volunteering allows us to learn and appreciate many of the aspects of life that we may rush through. So when you can, think about giving or volunteering. And try not to rush through your good work. Enjoy it. Learn from it. Relish it. Be in that moment, serving…and being served with these life lessons.

UniversalGiving
560 Sutter Street
Suite 210
San Francisco, CA 94102

This entry was posted on Friday, May 2nd, 2008 at 11:03 am and is filed under Organizations, Volunteers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.