Week 9 - Giving Can Improve Your Health

I recall somewhat vaguely when I was a child that I emptied a piggy bank that contained around $7. Then my mother took me with her on a long bus ride to the CFTO TV studios in the Scarborough area. There was no Scarborough SRT back then and the journey seemed to take forever to a wasteland where a TV studio was a located that seemed like Hollywood to me then.

On the outside, the studio seemed isolated and lifeless, but when we finally went inside we were met with the excitement of cameras moving around the floor with local celebrities running around constantly waving microphones around the room and talking very enthusiastically. Celebrities with loud jackets, wide ties and long sideburns that were the rage back then. You had to be very careful about where you stepped, because of a mess of camera cords and cables dragging around the floor.

It was certainly a rough and tumble existence running a 1971 TV telethon to raise funds for children with disabilities. I'm sure today the TV sets must be a lot more organized and high-tech. However, I was in awe of the celebrities that I brushed shoulders with .... Uncle Bobby and other entertainers that I could identify with as a 7 year old growing up in those days. They were like Hollywood stars to me in my little world, but they were just local people who happened to connect with children.

As a tall celebrity kneeled down to my level so that he could chat with me and take my $7 in change, I felt unbelievably nervous. There were TV cameras focused on me. I wanted to say something, but I was too shy.

This was my first time ever on TV and I didn't know what to say to the people. In reality, I probably didn't have to say anything. A had my 15 minutes of fame, as Andy Warhol once alluded to. A picture says a thousand words. When people watching TV saw my face and could see the progress I made and the hurdles I overcame, they knew the money was being put to good use.

Not only was this moment my first time on TV, but it was also the first time I ever donated anything to anyone. I realized in my own way the importance of giving to others.

For a moment, forget about doing all you can about eating right and exercising your body until you feel the burn. You can do all of these and still not improve your health, at least your mental health.

But when you make that decision to give of your time or your monetary resources to a worthwhile cause, you change your health in a different way. You reduce your stress level and you begin to feel a sense of doing something right for others in need. This results in a positive outlook that makes you feel good about yourself. Giving of ourselves to others whether it be monetarily or by giving of your time in terms of your health benefits is as important as eating and exercising right.

Many people in this hectic world find it hard to find time to volunteer to assist with a worthy cause. This is understandable. However, the time contribution and the monetary contribution don't have to be significant to benefit others.

Here is a brief list of some of my own contributions:
- I sponsor a young girl in Africa through World Vision
- I give contributions to Sick Kids Hospital
- When I can, I mentor people with their job search skills after they are rehabilitating from spinal cord injury.
- I serve as a member of two Toastmasters clubs because I believe in the importance of helping others improve their communication skills.
- In my department at work, I represent and fundraise for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Remember, when you reach out to help others, you are also helping yourself!