Here is a movement worth backing: rebooting Valentine’s Day into generosity day. It’s simple: on February 14 perform acts of random generosity toward people you came across.
Why? Let’s start with the basics.
Generosity is the habit of giving without expecting anything in return. It can involve offering time, assets or talents to aid someone in need. Often equated with charity as a virtue, generosity is widely accepted in society as a desirable trait. (Wikipedia)
Yes, generosity is “widely accepted in society as a desirable trait” yet we do so little to nurture it. Are you not dissatisfied to see that a special occasion like Valentine’s Day, supposed to be a celebration of love in its deepest form, has been conquered by chocolate makers, the flower and entertainment industry?
This year, let’s make it different! Need inspiration for your act of generosity? How about leaving a 100% tip in a restaurant, buying a flower for a person you don’t know, spending a few words of appreciation for a person who is working hard in the street, and anything coming to your mind. And here is the thing: do not expect anything in return. Nothing, nada, niente, nichts, nani mo iri masen.
Try it just for one day and if you think you like how it feels, you may even decide never to stop.
How did this all start? When Sasha Dichter, Chief Innovation Officer at Acumen Fund, tried a generosity experiment in 2009 I am sure he didn’t fully realize what machine he had set in motion. That first experiment kicked off a series of reactions leading to the first generosity day in 2011, joined by Fastcompany and many others. The movement started spreading faster in 2012. I love this video Teach For India applying the principles of Generosity Day in Indian schools. This year 2013 is our turn to make Generosity go viral.
Let’s join Generosity Day and let this day be a celebration of love toward everybody, love at the nth power!
If you want to talk/blog/tweet about Generosity Day, it would be great if you can include the #generosityday hashtag and also include links either to http://www.facebook.com/generosityday or to the microsite within the facebook page http://www.spreadgenerosity.com
Happy Generosity Day to you!
