We have a day for giving thanks. We have two for getting deals. Now, we have #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back. On Tuesday, December 2, 2014, charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.
I will admit it: I hit the mall this weekend… and Costco (found the dragon dog toys that everyone has been raving about!)… and Walmart, since apparently Costco doesn’t carry poop bags! I spent perhaps more than I intended to, although I blame needing to assemble more of a work wardrobe for most of it! So I contributed to the Black Friday Weekend and Cyber Monday craziness.
But I really love the message and intention of #GivingTuesday. I have always been strongly involved with a few non-profits as a volunteer, and I give what I can. But the gift of time is even more valuable. Yesterday the gift of time involved me having to hurriedly compose a ConstantContact e-mail and social media posts after my computer died on me (and is still dead!). It was kind of a pain, but it’s satisfying when the “likes”, “shares” and “retweets” start happening.
I hope to someday be in a financial position to give more (haha, says she who works for the county government…) but for now giving time is how I’m celebrating #GivingTuesday – manning tables for Canine Companions for Independence, sharing my story, doing all the web & social media for the Moebius Syndrome Foundation… It is true that giving back makes me feel better about myself and the world around me.
Natalie Abbott 