Whether you call it paying it forward or giving back, it's something that can change your life. So tell me do you? By sharing how you give back to your community or the world, you may just encourage others to do the same. Maybe instead of crying over what we don't have, we can reach out and give what we do have...our time. It doesn't take a lot of money, just a caring heart.
I just compiled my photos from the trip I took to Armenia as part of a Medical Mission team. A trip like this...whether it be around the world or around the corner to a place where people are in need...is life changing. It puts things in perspective and you will find the little things we gripe about really ARE little things in the grand scheme of it all.
So, if you have a chance today...tomorrow...or whenever, reach out. Share your time and compassion with someone who can use a smile, a hug or something as small as a warm blanket. The world will be helped and you will find your life to be better than it's ever been. I promise.
I hope my photos of my mission trip to Armenia touch your heart~
Amy Jones, Realtor, ABR, CNE, EPro, CDPE Chandler, Sun Lakes, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Tempe & Mesa Named one of the "Top 50 Real Estate Agents" by the Phoenix Business Journal
RE/Max Excalibur 4921 S. Alma School Rd Chandler, Arizona Direct~480-250-3857
Wonderful post! I think it is important to give back to the communities where we have had a chance to prosper! I actively help Habitat for Humanity, Mobile Loaves and Fishes and the Local Blood center. It's an great way to give back to groups who give so much to those in need!
What a life altering experience and you can see in the eyes of the children how you made a difference in their lives. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
I try to pay it forward each and every day. Perhaps it takes a bit from my personal productivity, but it makes me proud to be me, and that's important.
I always follow my heart. I give where I see a need and sometimes I give out of my own poverty. It is amazing how blessed I am when I do that. Mostly it is to the homeless person. A simple dollar or a bottle of water. One night my husband and I paid for a hotel room for a few of them so they would not have to be out in the 30 degree weather. The shelters fill up so quickly. I think for me giving to them is the most joyous. It could eaisly be me or any of us.
I hope more pople will take your challange and think about it.
It's almost selfish...but the act of giving has the best return. It's a joy you don't realize is inside you until you experience it. The fact that we HAVE when so many do not and that the roles could, in the blink of an eye, be reversed. Thanks to you all for taking the challenge.
Give before you get is a strong philosophy and one I live by every day. As part of my giving back to community, outside of real estate, I helped found and also help run a non-profit organization. We've also been financial supporters of many other non-profits in our area with focused giving of time and money to organizations that are focused on children (foster kids, kids w/ special needs, victims of sexual assault), animals (humane society and other local animal shelters), food banks, education, and of course our affiliation with RE/MAX includes Susan G. Komen. We also teach classes on real estate related issues for the public.
Great reminder Amy - our office has adopted a local charity to help families less fortunate by making gift baskets for different occasions (back to school supplies, holiday meal fixings, coat drives, etc) and it feels really good to pay it forward.
Amy - very touching and very true - we have so much as Americans, most of us have no idea how others live. I went on a mission trip to Romania and it completely changed my outlook and my life. The whole reason that I am working as hard as I am right now is so that in the future I will be able to give more to those who are in need. Thank you for sharing!
Awesome, Awesome, Awesome. Realtors have such big hearts. I think a lot of people don't realize how much we give.
Russell ~ Habitat for Humanity, Blood donation and Loaves and Fishes. You ROCK!
Norma Jo ~ I love that you gave those gentlemen a place to stay on a cold night.
Harris~ The animal shelter. Great cause! I know there are a group of realtors here in the Phoenix Valley who have put together a shelter/adoption placement program for animals left behind in foreclosed homes.
Reba ~ Wonderful that you had that opportunity! There really is nothing like visiting a country in need and seeing how much we take for granted. Toilets anyone? drinking water? Yep... a luxury in some countries. Yet...smiles still abound on the faces of the children.
Gloria ~ Fantastic! An office effort around the calendar. Needs don't stop when the holidays pass by.
Cheryl ~ Komen is a great one. I love that RE/Max supports that effort and also makes it easy for us to give a portion of every commission to the Children's Miracle Network too..Don't miss that donation at all and it all adds up for some wonderful causes.
I give monetary donations to several charities. However, the charity that is dearest to my heart is the Angie Houtz Memorial Fund. I donate countless hours planning events, working on the website, and reviewing scholarship applications. Thanks for sharing your own service.
Stacey-Ann ~ It's true. Giving financially is great and can be simple however, not quite as rewarding as giving of your time and effort. Kudos to you. Great website by the way!
Charlie~ Another great cause and outstanding effort on your part. Helping young people in a struggle...awesome.
Hi Amy -- So true. I travelled around the world on a world cruise when I was in the Navy and visited many very poor cities throughout the globe and it's heart wrenching when we can walk into Best Buy and see 120 different plasma and LCD tvs and tons of electronics and half the world doesn't have clean drinking water.
Amy - Giving back is so rewarding in my opinion. I donate blood on a regular basis and was recently told it's used within 36 hours, that figure put it into prospective for me on how short they are on blood. I've also given my hair to locks of love, which I plan on doing again next year.
There is nothing in the world like the glow of happiness when the keys to a new Habitat for Humanity home are turned over to the new owners. The joy is so infectious & being part of it gives you back so much more than you have given.
Amy - Maybe the better question is "How Can You NOT Give Back"? No matter how much or how little I have, someone, somewhere, has nothing. Thank you for your post/pictures.
Amy, the hardest part of giving back is finding the time and finances to do so when we all try to keep OUR OWN head above water... there but for the grace of God go we, but we can all do our little part.
You are so right. There is no greater experience than giving back and isn't it amazing how much you get in return? I have been on several trips both in and out of the country each time return changed person for having done so.
Giving brings you joy. Giving back removes your guilt.
I don't like the term "giving back". If I have earned something, it means that I have already given something of equal value to someone. If I feel like I have cheated someone, then I might feel compelled to give some of it back. As you've stated, giving is it's own reward. Annonymous giving probably provides the biggest reward.
Chris~ Bless you for your service to our country. My dad was a WWII Retired Navy Veteran and he saw poverty first hand as well.
Michelle ~ way to bleed!
Gary ~ Sometimes the smallest giving reaps the biggest reward. I believe finding time will never happen but making time will.
Damon ~ I think many people think they must have plenty in order to give. We'll never be Oprah rich. Giving a weekend serving at the local shelter doesn't cost a dime.
Diane~ Thanks so much for your message and your commitment to making a difference.
Tim ~ Giving is giving whether it's called giving back, paying forward or bestowing a blessing. Let's not get hung up in the semantics of it and just do it. And yes...it's definitely not about patting ourselves on the back. It's about sharing where we help others, so it can inspire and encourage others to do the same. For example....as a result of this post, I've been contacted by one of the posters regarding a mission I might like to be a part of because I also donate my time painting children's murals at my church. I'm thrilled to be blessed with this new opportunity to serve. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Volunteering in a impoverish land should be mandatory for today's youth. 2 weeks in Paraguay, Laos, Ethopia are amoung mainy nations that will never afford the safety and health we have here. Thank you for your accounts of a world away.
Congratulations on the FEATURE! Very touching.. I like Joe Bourland's idea (#33), but we could probably find some good examples of poverty in the Ozarks, or Mississippi right here in the USA
Giving to your community can be extremely rewarding. There is something inside that warms considerably when you see your efforts make a difference in a good cause that benefits others.
Keller Williams RED Day - May 14 every year! What a great nation wide campaign encouraging agents to give back to their local communities. It was an overwhelming success. Can't wait until next year.
Habitat is a fav of mine, local recovery houses as well, I have been known to donate to many things, sometimes anonymously, sometimes not. The big issue for me is to remember and be grateful for what I have and to share with those less fortunate in some way. Humility is essential to happiness in my book~
Great post and great comments. We always try to give back wherever we can, whether to the community, families in need, armed forces, local businesses, etc.
This is one blog I like to see. A blog that shows people to give and not expecting anything in return is one that you talk about and back it up. Those that really give from their heart are always blessed in return. I have really started backing my own words by doing. I'm not going to state everything I do but I do give in my time and money. I not only suggest people to do things on my twitter but I tell them what I did.
Many people need to back-up what they say and really mean it. Keep up the good work and helpful blogs.
I volunteer regularly, and am a member of our Rotary Club. Projects I've given time to in the last six months include Teton Literacy Program, Habitat For Humanity, Rotary trash pick up, Rotary Readers... It really is all about what you can give others!
That is good stuff. I have been preaching this for years, as far as giving back to the community and it is obvious you went to the next level so way to go!
The fact is that you get it and many don't but as time goes on and other agents see how rewarding giving back can be, I think it will inspire others to do the same and it all starts with just a little giving of ones time on a local level and that will lead to other things.
One item I would like to give a shout out to would be to being a volunteer with C.A.S.A. which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. Just look them up in your area but one of the best organizations I have ever been a part of.
I did a Short Term Mission trip to Spain one time. It was probably not as challenging as what you did, but it was hard and not playing tourist. It was very rewarding.
What a great post. I love it. I usually volunteer at institutions, serve at the nursery at my Church so their parents can enjoy the teachings, donate my services to be raffled and auction for fundraising, do my best to help those in need. My mission really is to help mothers raise their children in a positive environment through my free site positivemommies.com. I think every little bit helps!
Thanks for the lovely post...Giving back is a way of life manifested in everything you do. It is a smile for a stranger, it is letting someone in line, it is noticing that everyone not just those who appear to need it, can use a positive light highlighting them. It is a philosophy to live with, it is a mindset of abundance! Thanks again.
For the past 30 years, I have been volunteering as an EMT for my local amulance corps, giving an average of 50 hours a month, or more. My volunteer work grounds me and makes me realize what life is all about. Unfortunatly, we (and most other volunteer ambulance corps) have had a huge drop in membership. It seems less people are willing to volunteer. More people should look in their hearts and give whatever time they can back to their community.
Amy--great work on your Armenia trip. Those really are life changing experiences.
There have been a number of projects over the past 30 years. Currently, I volunteer with the Napa American Cancer Society, helping to prepare for special events. In Truckee, my teenage daughter and I spend some weekend afternoons during the holiday season collecting non-perishables for the local food bank. You can imagine how rewarding it is to see your child taking part in something like this. Sometimes, people will come up to her and ask her about being "coerced" into "helping Mom". She clears this up pretty quickly... she's not "helping Mom" she's helping families in her community that need a little extra right now. And she's enjoying it! She also donates a portion of her earnings as a ski instructor (for 3-6 year olds) to the Himalayan Cataract Project. As a mom, I'm so proud! I can see her in the Peace Corps or similar venue when she's a little older.
Thanks for sharing your experience and inviting us to share ours as well. I was a volunteer listener and director of a 24/7 suicide prevention hotline when I lived in France. Lending my ears to so much isolation and sadness in the darkest hours of the night was my gift to those annonymous callers. However, I always felt that I received so much more from those callers who didn't know me, yet trusted me enough to share their deepest feelings. Now I'm building houses for Habitat for Humanity.
Kudos to you and to all of the other AR members here who give so freely and generously of their time and experience in any way!
Very nice reminder Amy; that as hard as life seems, someone else may need your encouragement. A smile, hug or kind word given in sincerety is worth more than money.
Amy and All - What a wonderful post! I was a banker for 25+ years and found myself a product of downsizing. One door closes one door opens as they say. I live in Minneapolis and my dear friend Ruth offered me a position to help grow her cause, Homes for Heroes! In all my years of corporate america and mortgage banking and brief five years of real estate, I have found a career I can truly hang my hat on. And as a Director with Homes for Heroes I have the distinct pleasure to work with wonderful professionals like all of you who are special within their field and truly want to give back to their communities and their local heroes. Thank you all!!
Thanks so much and congratlations on your feature. I try to do all I can and actually get back more than I give. I give blood regularly and am a trained volunteer for the Red Cross. I donate to the Buddy Pack Program (sends home food on weekends) at our local school. I am active in our church and we have several projects going on all the time. I also help out in the community by being on various committees and being an alderperson on the city council for over 18 years. I do what I can and actually get back way more than I give.
Hey all you wonderful GIVING Realtors. You have all made my day...but even bigger you have touched a life and made a difference. If I wore a hat...it would be off to all of you.
Joe~ I've often said I wish it was a requirement of parenting that our children be involved in a giving of their time and talents. Seeing poverty first hand whether in this country or the often unbelievable poverty in a foreign land would greatly make a difference. Maybe the money spent on the latest and greatest electronic item could be given to a town for a fresh water supply. How cool would that be?
Paul~ Yes, there are ample opportunities here in the U.S., but I certainly wouldn't put a boundary on where you are called to help. Follow your heart and you will make a difference.
Jean, Vanessa, Tim, Gene, Elena & Carolyn. Awesome causes you've selected to be a part of. Thanks so much for sharing these.
Paul ~ Thanks for the reblog!
Raviv~ Unfortunately due to these economic times, many causes have seen a decline in giving. Thanks for continuing by giving of your time to the volunteer EMT program in your community. It's really not just about providing financially. Time folks...TIME!
Tamara~ I'm so impressed that your daughter has her head on. May she be a great example (as you are as a parent by exposing her to the giving that lives inside her). Bravo to you both.
Debby ~ It takes a special person to be able to listen to someone during their darkest times. You may never know how many lives you've saved. God bless you.
Brad~ YES our servicemen and women and our veterans deserve our help more than ever. Thank you for sharing.
Sandy~ I love the sound of "Homes for Heroes". Is this a local effort or nationwide? Please email me with more information. I'll also try finding it on the internet. You have found a calling and the REAL reason that has nothing to do with our own financial success. How very rewarding.
WE ARE REALTORS WHO CARE and I'm so proud to be a member of that society. We do it not for the glory, not for the points, and not because we have to. It's a beautiful thing.
Hi Amy! So happy your blog has been featured. It brought back some very special memories for me of the years I lived in Tucson, Arizona and was a member of St. Marks United Methodist Church. The Church was truly mission oriented and did so much in the way of outreach, with medical missions into Mexico, assistance to the reservations and, the part I played a role in, was the formation of an Interfaith Center in which we provided many forms of assistance throughout the Tucson community. I have always felt more greatly rewarded in the spirit of giving back - my mission now is supporting a child in Africa, and giving to other similar organizations.
Your blog has been posted at an ideal time of the year. Perhaps members can be inspired to give the gift of charity, in a monetary manner, during the upcoming holiday season to various organizations in the name of associates and friends. Instead of giving individual office gifts at Christmas each year, I write a big check to an organization such as Unicef on behalf of the office. My fellow workers really like it, and share in the reward of giving back.
Every gesture of help, no matter how small, lifts up the whole world.
Amy, thanks for sharing this video and thanks for helping.
As a veteran who has served overseas I know first hand how it feels to receive letters and packages from home. Here is a group I have worked with based right here in Phoenix. Packages from Home sends packages to troops around the world. On this eve of Veterans day I hope we can all take the time to remember those who have served and those who are serving both here and in far away places.
You are amazing! Thank you for sharing. I have gone on a few mission trips to Mexico through AMOR ministries. We take youth from our church and spend a week building a house in Mexico. We sleep in tents have no running water and cook all of our meals "out". It is the most rewarding thing I have ever experienced and makes you super greatful for the things we have and take for granted (like a shower).
I could not agree with you more, Amy! I "give back" because it is in my nature. While my 'acts of kindness' are for SELFLESS reasons, I feel a little bit of guilt (that soon passes) when I get a new client as a result of my charitable actions!
It makes me proud of my profession (that often gets a bad wrap) when I hear stories like yours! I think we all can make a difference in some way and I hope others follow your lead!
Amanda~ Kudos on your work with AMOR ministries. Yes, as Americans we are very blessed. We often don't remember it's the little things that make a big difference in our lives. If we didn't have a place to bathe or a bed to sleep in, I doubt many of us would be able to earn a living. It's easy to get comfortable and complacent.
Judy ~ There are many folks who want us to keep our acts of kindness under a basket. Reminds me of the song I used to sing as a little girl "This little light of mine...I'm gonna let it shine". Not by bragging...but by letting others see. And, by seeing may everyone be encouraged. I am so encouraged and often even shamed when I see others that have less than I have doing more than I do. It keeps me humble and causes me to search for other areas to serve. Continue with your acts of kindness and consider it a blessing when others come to you because of those acts.
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Amy...
I've always believed you can not take from this world that which you are unwilling to give. I guess that answers the question :)
TLW...ROAR!