When you were a kid, nothing was more exciting than ripping open that special gift you’d been anticipating on Christmas morning, whether it was a Cabbage Patch doll, Star Wars figurines, or an Easy Bake Oven. As a grown up, it’s still fun to get gifts. There’s something mysterious and thrilling about what’s underneath the card and pretty paper you’re about to unveil.
No matter what age, we all have wants. We want success. We want good health and great relationships. We want the latest gadgets that will make our lives easier. We want a bigger house and a better car, and so on. Sometimes we get so caught up in the wants, we lose sight of the most gratifying gift of all – giving.
Studies have shown that regardless of income level, when it comes to happiness, it’s better to give than receive. Here are some reasons why:
- Giving helps others. If you have the luxury of living comfortably with a roof over your head and food on the table, you’re in a position to give. For many, the world is a dark, scary place, and those who have very little often depend on the generosity and kindness of others. When you give to those who are less fortunate, you add to their lives and as a result, add to yours too.
- Giving teaches responsibility. Giving requires making sacrifices. For example, if there’s a cause you’re passionate about, you might have to cut back on spending and learn how to live without things in order donate your time and money.
- Giving makes you feel happy. When you see smiles, words of gratitude and expressions of hope after giving, the memory of that moment can last a lifetime. In a recent controlled study at the University of British Columbia, students were given an envelope containing money. Teachers told them they had until 5 pm that day to either spend money on themselves or on someone else. The results weren’t all that surprising – those who gifted for others were happier than those who gifted for themselves.
- Giving is contagious. When you’re connected to a cause, it inspires others to want to get on the bandwagon and be a part of it too. For example, one of Impact’s dedicated families, the Ricchios, hosted their 10th annual Ricchio Family Toy Drive, donating hundreds of toys to benefit patients at Lurie Children’s Hospital and The Ronald McDonald House in Chicago. Their hard work, energy and effort inspire more families to participate every year and the list just keeps growing.
- Giving helps promote lasting relationships. A 2011 report from the National Marriage Project found that regular acts of generosity on behalf of spouses helps create long-term harmony in the relationship. It could be as simple as offering a back rub, making a compliment or fetching a cup of coffee. That’s not so hard!
- Giving makes a difference. Whether you donate one dollar or $1,000, volunteer five minutes or five hours, your money and time gives you the power to touch someone else’s life more than you ever imagined. When Impact Dance Studio joined forces with Dancers Against Cancer, an organization founded in 2012 to spread awareness and raise money for cancer fighting charities, never in their wildest dreams did they think they’d raise so much money and touch so many people’s lives. Thanks to the generosity of Impact’s company, family and friends, the studio has raised over $7,000 for Dancers Against Cancer in 2019.
Whether you give someone your time, a shoulder to cry on, your friendship and warmth, or give materially, doing nice things for others is good way to live. In fact, giving actually makes you live longer! In the words of Winston S. Churchill, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
In the spirit of giving this season, Impact Dance Studio hosts its annual Winter Wonderland recital Sunday, December 22 at Hinsdale Central and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. For more information, please call 708-354-JUMP or contact us at: www.impactdancestudio.com.
