Any of this sound familiar?
- I almost wrote a check to Partners in Health after the earthquake in Haiti.
- I almost offered to volunteer in my son’s classroom.
- I almost told someone who casually used the “r-word” to get a clue.
- I almost called my senators to let them know how I feel about the health care bill.
- I almost wrote a blog post about the Carson’s sale event to benefit Goodwill (Donate to Goodwill, get 20% off).
Our character isn’t comprised of the things we almost did–it’s the accumulation of the things we actually did. Good intentions and charitable impulses aren’t enough. So, while all of the above are sad reminders of the things I didn’t do this week, I’m happy to say I followed through on a few charitable impulses, too.
- I volunteered at the Cara Program to help unemployed workers develop their interviewing skills.
- I served as Cookie Mom for my daughter’s Girl Scout troop.
- I became a “High Fidelity” member of my favorite public radio station in the country, (you can pledge, too, at WBEZ).
- I helped my kids round up their pennies and dollars (and mine, too) for the Central Asia Institute’s Pennies for Peace campaign at their school.
- I started posting to my philanthropy blog again after three months of almost posting.
I feel great about those efforts. I always feel good when I follow through on something. And the legacy I hope to pass to my kids is that of a parent who speaks and acts with compassion and consideration, not one who really meant to but never got around to it.
So the next time a charitable impulse makes itself known in some part of your busy brain–act on it.
Thanks to Rosetta Thurman for pointing out the “Don’t Almost Give – Give” campaign sponsored by the Ad Council, which inspired this post.
