Second Reason Why We Should Practise Giving

Time is precious! We all live by the maxim that ‘time is money’ and only a small number of us will give it away for nothing. We choose to be involved in activities that pay because we need to survive in a world where everything carries a price tag. And so we leave volunteering to those who have plenty of time or plenty of money. What most of us don’t realise however is that giving time away freely actually pays!

Utopia

Giving of our time helps to keep us healthy. Dr. Stephen Post, author of Why Good Things Happen to Good People (2007), has carried out a number of studies that show just that. His research illustrates that when we volunteer our service to help others not only does it improve our physical health but also promotes longevity. His studies show that high school kids who give of their time have better physical and mental health throughout their lives; while older people who are involved in helping others live longer than those who don’t.

Dystopia

The dystopian science fiction In Time (2011) produced by Andrew Niccol starring Justin Timberlake is an unpleasant and undesirable representation of living a life that is controlled by time. Dystopias are usually characterized by dehumanization, disasters and decline. I sometime wonder if we've created a dystopian mindset when we allow time to rob us of the benefits of living a benevolent and rewarding life.

The Pragmatic

Giving of our time enriches us. There is nothing fictional about the benefits of giving. The more we give of ourselves the more we can create our very own personalized little utopia around us and be remunerated for it. Perhaps I’m being a little idealistic and semi-controversial like Sir Thomas More back in 1516 with his imaginary island of Utopia in the Atlantic Ocean, but I don’t want to discard what researchers are discovering about the practice of giving and least yet I don’t want to ignore my personal sense of satisfaction when I engage in giving of my time. Will Salas (Justin Timberlake) turned the table around on time by giving it away and experienced greater reward and satisfaction than he did when he put in for overtime at the factory. Okay, so I should probably throw in a caution right here: Like anything in life don’t overdo it. Balance is important. You shouldn't go giving it all away and find yourself ‘timing out’ like Henry Hamilton the drunken suicidal from New Greenwich. But let’s not let time control.  Give and give wisely.