The seed for giving was planted in my family at a very young age. I would watch my mother purchase extra items from the store, keep those items in a paper bag in the car, and give the whole bag to a homeless person that she would see while driving around our neighborhood.
I observed my grandmother promptly giving to charitable organizations when asked and now at the age of 80, volunteering her time at nursing homes.
And at 10 years old, I remember waking up at 5 a.m. on a Saturday to help restore an elderly person’s home through an initiative hosted by my mother’s job.
This idea of helping others, engrained in me while young, continued on into college and throughout adulthood. Even now, it’s something that I plan to pass onto my children.
I’m normally a person who doesn’t like to share much about my life on social media, mainly because I assume that people won’t be interested. That includes sharing my helpful actions with others for the sake of just sharing, unless asked.
Recently, I’ve noticed more social media posts detailing good deeds. The latest was a self-shot Facebook video of one of my former college classmates spontaneously handing out essential items that he had in his back seat to a man and his son.
I first thought, “Why do we need a video of him helping someone out?” and “Isn’t this a form of exploiting someone in need?”
I truly believe that everyone should help those in need, in any form, so broadcasting it really doesn’t impress me. Sadly, I found myself more focused on him actually sharing his good deed and the need for him to do so than the deed itself.
Initially, I would assume that most people share these moments to make themselves look good. Perhaps posting makes them feel heroic or better about themselves. But I often wonder if sharing these positive actions for the kudos you can obtain is really a form of altruism. According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of altruism is “unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others.”
If you give unselfishly, then post about it, are you truly devoted to the welfare of others? Or is sharing about such acts an example of self-promotion?
On the other hand, posting such things can have a positive adverse effect. It can inspire others to give as well. Although, to be honest, the only time I have felt inspired to give more is when I read a friend’s post about how someone helped them. This friend was in a drive-thru and when she pulled up to the window, she found out that the person in front of her had paid for her meal.
It’s something so small but it made me perform that small, yet kind-hearted deed for someone else.
At the end of the day, I guess I should just be happy that people are still going out of their way to help others. And if your heart is truly in the right place, that’s all that matters. But then again, if it is, you should let the good work you do speak for you.
Images via Shutterstock
