“Compassion and giving don’t have to involve getting on a plane and building houses and it doesn’t just mean giving money. It can also be donating ‘’skills’’.
Giving can be as simple as giving joy to others - sharing our talents and skills to help them tap into their own ability to experience wonder.”
What is Giving Tuesday? Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. It’s a day that encourages people to give back in whatever ways they can.
I have been a lot more conscious of my efforts to ‘‘give back’’ to my community and my peers since I read the book Thrive by Ariana Huffington where I was inspired by her idea of Pillar #4 of the Third Metric: Giving
‘‘Giving, loving, caring, empathy and compassion, going beyond ourselves and stepping out of our comfort zones to help serve others - is the only visible answer to the multitude of problems the world is facing.
We all need to find the leader in the mirror, and take steps to make a difference, both in our own communities and at the other end of the world.
However successful we are, when we go out in the world to ''get things,'' when we strive to achieve a goal, we are operating from a perceived deficit, focused on what we don't have and are trying to obtain - until the goal is achieved. And then we go after the next goal. But when we give however little or much we have we are tapping into our sense of abundance and overflow. Giving sends a message to the universe that we have all we need. And we become abundant by giving to others.’’
I’ve always dreamt of being a storyteller of the sea… and by using the power of photography I can nurture a meaningful connection with nature where I feel like I can educate people to support and protect our oceans. And the more we understand the ocean, the more we appreciate and want to protect it.
My goal with My Life in Shades of Blue - A Visual Story of a Girl & her Ocean, is to bring awareness to ocean conservation and empower action through art and giving back by donating part of the profits from this book to ocean conservation charities such as these ones.
Here are a few initiatives and causes that are close to my heart because they have a positive impact on the ocean, the environment and the well-being of the community.
Most of these websites have links for online activism, sometimes as simple as adding your name to a petition or clicking a link to send email to a legislator. If you’re more ambitious, look into volunteer opportunities to vote with your time and energy instead of (or in addition to) your wallet.