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Day 290: The Circle of Giving is the Circle of Life

365give has a story about people that give it forward

It is true. Circle of Giving is the Circle of Life. When you give to another, that act of giving is passed forward. It is almost a guarantee. Seldom do you get to witness the act of passing it forward, but I have proof in a great giving story.
Day 290: Give 290 Guest Post by Nicola Inwood
Give to another and they will give it forward
Two years ago an employee of mine came into work with a case of Bells Palsy, paralysis to one side of the face that is generally caused by stress. My employee was horrified, did not know what it was and assumed he had a stroke. He immediately went to the federally supported hospital and after hours of waiting in line, received some medication and a diagnosis, Bells Palsy. The doctor requested that he come back in 10 days and that was it. No facial excercises, no investigation into why this happened. Just medicate and come back. This story happened in Mexico. My employee was scared.

After 5 days of no improvement and no family to support him through this, I called a Mexican community clinic to see if they could offer some support other than medication. Oddly enough, Bells Palsy is common in Mexico and the community clinic was happy to review his case, at a cost of 3 usd to see the doctor and 9 usd to see the specialist. As his employer, I took him by the hand, and went to the clinic with him to support the process. In 10 minutes he had seen the specialist, was scheduled to see the psychiatrist and appoints were made for the next few weeks. After 3 weeks the Bells palsy was healed, the paralysis gone and I had an employee who was the happiest man alive. A miracle had happened and someone took the time to care for his health, for him and his fears of looking like this for the rest of his life.
Fast forward to 2011
One evening a friend of mine was out for dinner and noticed that a mariachi guitarist was not smiling. She looked at him and motioned for him to smile. He turned away. After the music was done, the mariachi band player came to my girlfriends table and apologized for not smiling but explained he could not smile, he has this weird paralysis in his face and could not smile. Sherry remembered the story of my staff member, called him directly and hooked up the mariachi band player with Ubaldo. At 7 am the next morning, Ubaldo took the mariachi band player to the local community clinic personally, got him the three initial appointments, paid for them and waited until the appointments were done to review what the schedule of treatments would be. Ubaldo remained in contact with the mariachi band player until he too did not have the paralysis anymore.
Giving just keeps on Giving
I heard about this giving episode by chance. It was not told to me by my employee or the mariachi band player. My girlfriend mentioned it in passing. I talked to my employee about it, he confirmed the tale, and I just hugged him. I did not need to say anything, I just hugged him. He did the right thing and his action was quick and from the heart. We both knew how it all happened. The mariachi band player is a friend of his for life and will pay it forward to another in another way.

It is stories like this that make me smile. It is acts of giving like this that make my life all worthwhile. I would never have heard about this from him, it was a chance meeting with my girlfriend that got the story to me. I wonder each day who else is giving it forward and hope that more people do give it forward than we think. I never gave thinking that it would be passed forward, nor did Ubaldo give in hopes it would be passed forward. It just happens. The more we give, the more it gets passed forward, the more it gets passed forward, the more we change the world one day at a time.

Have you passed a giving action forward lately. Do you have a story about a giving action being passed forward that made your day? Let 365give know about your Give It forward story today and sent it to [email protected]

What people are saying about 365give

“I wanted to express my gratitude for the teaching you provided today. Your message was delivered eloquently, compassionately, and without judgment. The kids were engaged, and now have knowledge with which they can change the world. We all appreciated how you took the time to help us learn to build positive mindsets and practice happiness.”
Shelley Gardner, Grade 6 Ridgeview Elementary (West Vancouver)
“Actions really do speak louder than words, which is why I believe the 365give Challenge has resonated throughout my community. Every give we do is so important to us and leaves us happier and appreciating our lives a little bit more than before.”
Mahina Niyozova (Tajikistan)
“After watching the 365give TEDx Talk, I was inspired to join and begin a daily giving program in India. Today, along with 12 other volunteer women, we provide 100 meals to local underprivileged children in Bangalore for school every day.”
Deepika Ahuja, Mom (Bangalore, India)
“My life has greater meaning now.”
Renate Jorge, @BeKindBrazil and 365give Member, Family Program (Brazil)
“I just wanted to share that 365give really helped me. I am a better person now, thank you.”
MayLee, 365give Member, Individual Program
“This 365give Challenge has really injected excitement and extra enthusiasm in each work day as I think about what we can do. It has motivated me and the students.”
Cristina Peters, School Counselor (New York City, USA)
“I have seen a huge shift in energy throughout my classroom since doing the 365give Challenge. The Challenge has empowered my students to make a positive difference in the school’s community and beyond.”
Cella Adriana, Special Needs Educator /The Holliswood School (New York City, USA)
“The 365give Challenge helps students understand their impact on others. It opens avenues for introducing and discussing global and local issues in classrooms. It is powerful to watch students of all ages think about how they can make a change in another person’s life with one small act.”
Jessica Hall, Primary Teacher, French Immersion at École Pauline Johnson (West Vancouver, Canada)