I Can Give More
I can give more.
A big conversation my husband, Dave, and I had when I turned 60 was what we wanted to do for another 30 years… another Third of our lives. What legacy would we leave? How did we want to invest our time and lives? How would we fill 30 more years with productive existence?
Let’s need less and give more! We agreed to make that our anthem.
How to give more? We expect to be approaching years of earning less, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a lot to give.
1. I have time to give.
I have time for emergency grandchild pickups. I can arrange time for extended grandparent duties when out of town trips come up for our kids. I have time to meet for coffee to console a friend who is divorcing or to celebrate with a young couple who are going to be parents for the first time and whose family is a continent away. I have time to help a friend study for her citizenship test. And I have time to spontaneously meet Dave for lunch.
2. I have expertise to give.
It took me a while and several organizations before I found a volunteer role that uses my skills and fits my interests. I run a “Food as Medicine” program for a local community health organization. This has been a good fit because I have an interest in nutrition, supportive interns who manage the day to-day efforts, and I truly value the people who are leading the clinics. I love the challenge of maintaining inventory, finding ways to provide fresh produce for our monthly Pantry, and including people to volunteer with me who enjoy making a difference.
3. I have wisdom to give.
Long ago, Dave suggested that I might be more effective if I waited to be asked for my opinion (as opposed to giving it freely and often). My advice is better now, four decades later, and I actually have people ask for my opinion. I am happy to share my thoughts and perspectives in a way that might give a younger leader hope or direction. I can give a young mother confidence that she is doing a fine job and assure her that no one knows what they are doing as parents until they’ve been at it for a while. I can pass along what I know about nutrition or exercise to give someone a boost towards being fit and active into their ThirdThird.
4. I have a home that gives warmth and welcome.
Hospitality is different from entertaining. A warm welcome, no matter what the house looks like or what food is on hand to be shared trumps lavish events, in my book. An evening of authentic conversation and simple food can restore the soul. A warm place (physically and emotionally) is a wonderful gift to offer. Peace and acceptance are marks of a home that gives welcome.
5. I have money to give.
Since I need less, I actually can have more to give. I doubt I will ever be the $10 million donor to the YMCA or have a building on a campus named after me. But, my steady support of our local church makes a difference. An annual gift to an organization I believe in is a joy to give. The occasional special gift supporting a softball team or a sending a child to camp or supplying chickens to the indigenous groups in Copper Canyon Mexico are all ways that I enjoy givingmoney. And, they truly make a difference in lives. I love being generous with money when I can.
I love being able to give more as I need less in my ThirdThird.
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