I like Sundays to be cozy and comfortable, filled with food and bad movies and blog writing. Yesterday was Sunday, March 2 and though it was not like that at all, it was truly a great day. I started this post yesterday but didn’t have a lot of time to write it in its entirety, as I had to leave for a soccer game. Now that I have a few minutes, I wanted to touch on the highlight of my Sunday: Giving back.
We hear from so many people so very often how it’s important to give back to the communities that have helped us grow, develop and become who we are. We are constantly asked to raise money, to support important causes and to spread awareness – to stop bullying, to end homelessness, to find a cure for cancer, to save the blue whale and to encourage education for people at all levels of income. Giving back can be overwhelming.
Part of my job involves listening to people share their cancer stories – whether it be sharing their personal struggles with the disease or losing someone that meant the world to them. Yesterday, a major Toronto news broadcaster covered a kick-off event at Yorkdale Shopping Centre for the Shoppers Drug Mart Weekend to End Women’s Cancers. The camera person chatted with one particular individual who is participating in The Weekend for the first time this year with her twin sister and her other sibling. Together, they are raising money to end cancer in honour of one of their teammates who is a cancer fighter. During the interview with the camera person, the individual was sharing the story of her sister’s battle. To my right, this sister stood with a smile from ear to ear – so excited that her story was being told, but also so emotional and inspired to be making an impact for herself, for others and for the future. Though smiling from ear to ear, this cancer fighter was dabbing a Kleenex to her eyes. I believe these were proud tears, tears of triumph and strength.
On Friday, my good friend asked me what I loved most about my job. I answered that I am the gatekeeper between someone who has been through so much (emotionally, physically and mentally) and the community. With my work, I am able to give these people the opportunity to share their story, and that gives them hope and extends hope throughout the community. It’s seriously a blessing.
On Sunday I also participated in the University of Guelph-Humber’s Media Studies and Business Program Preview Day. As a graduate of the University of Guelph-Humber and someone who has worked for the Student Life, Academic Advising and Recruitment departments at the school, the institution’s reputation and success means so much to me. To see hundreds of students in chairs with eyes staring right at me, soaking up everything I say and listening to me with such content, and to see parents of future students so keen on their child’s success, I feel honoured to have helped someone, even just one person, even the slightest in choosing where they would like to pursue their post-secondary education. I had someone come up to me and ask to do an informational interview. It was just last year, literally, when I was booking a slew of these said meetings for my own professional development.
Regardless of how great being able to do all of these things on yesterday’s not so restful “day of rest” has made me feel on the inside (selfishly), the point of this blog post isn’t to rant and ramble about how I spent my Sunday doing wonderful things. It was to highlight the impact we can have just by doing what we love, just by being true to ourselves and just by thinking about the other gal/guy.
We often get so caught up in to do lists and time constraints that we forget to sit back and enjoy the ride. As cliché as that statement is, if we were able to take even just one minute out of every day to reflect on why we’re doing what we’re doing, I think the world would be a better place. If we took one moment out of every week to understand how our actions may impact people we may not even come in direct contact with, would we lose motivation? I don’t think we would.
Share something powerful you’ve realized about your daily routine.
xo
a quarter young 