365 Days of Giving
Written by Emily MacCosham.
Man has been searching for meaning as far back as we can remember. Crippled by this existential crisis, he has turned to alcohol, drugs, sex, and soulless jobs in order to fill this deep void. What if the answer to this crisis were actually very simple? What if, as Tony Robbins put it, “the secret of living is giving?” Very simple, indeed – yet tremendously profound.
I live in a rural town called Yeonggwang, with a captivating temple named Bulgapsa. As I meander along the temple path, I ponder the simple life of a monk. He spends his time immersed in meditation, chanting, studying, reading, and of course, giving. These monks have no possessions. What could they possibly offer people? To quote the wise and enlightened Buddha, “Give, even if you only have a little.” The monks have much to give: their time, their wisdom, and their knowledge of The Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. There is much to learn from this simple life.
Perhaps you are someone who believes in fate and messages from a higher power. Sometimes a sign is sent to you during your most trying times in life: the times when you were suffering the most. That was certainly how it felt for me when I stumbled upon an inspiring TED Talk by Jacqueline Way titled “How to Be Happy Every Day: It Will Change the World.” Now, who would not want to be happy every day? Jacqueline made the simple commitment to give back to the world every day for one year with her three-year-old son, Nick. Nick asks in the video, “Mommy, how many days are in a year?” Nick was so excited that he wanted to start giving on his birthday. In the video, he learns the magic of compassion and how it sends positive ripples throughout the world. At the age of three, Nick learns to recycle! If you are curious about Jacqueline and Nick’s story, check out their website at https://www.365give.ca/author/admin/. They have inspired thousands of educators and students around the world.
Jacqueline’s project roused a deep longing inside of me to connect with strangers in positive ways and to give back simply. Empowered by this TED Talk and by my husband, Michael, we decided to start our own “365 Days of Giving” project in South Korea. On our first day, we fed two Jindo dogs some tuna! I think the dogs were more excited to eat the tuna than to see their foreign friends.
On the second day, Michael and I started reading a book called “Peace Pilgrim” about a woman who walked around America sharing her eloquent messages of peace to anyone who would listen. She walked for 28 years before she died. If you are interested in getting her book for free, check out the following website: https://www.peacepilgrim.org/.
On Day 3, Michael and I wrote letters for “Operation Gratitude,” which is the largest nonprofit in America for volunteers who support the military, veterans, and first responders. We hope these letters are received well by these courageous Americans and a ripple effect of giving can begin.
On Day 4, I signed a petition to ban female genital mutilation/cutting in Massachusetts and donated 10,000 won to help the project. Michael signed a petition to “Save White’s Woods Nature Center,” which he has visited in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. You can sign a petition or even start your own petition by going to this website: https://www.change.org/petitions.
On Day 5, we treated our Korean friend, Alto, to a delicious vegetarian buffet at Sujata restaurant near Mudeung Mountain. He exclaimed, “This is the best restaurant I have been to!” and was very surprised by the vegetarian options that resembled and even tasted like meat. It was a great way for us to encourage vegetarianism in Korea. Alto was so excited he went back to the restaurant the very next day!
On Day 6, we walked around Yeonggwang collecting garbage and recycling it. Michael recently started a weekly/biweekly garbage collecting day at Gamami Beach in order to protect the environment and encourage Korean people to do the same. One Korean girl even helped us pick up garbage and got a mini English lesson from it!
Giving can be as simple as hugging a person in need or smiling at a stranger, turning off the lights more often, unplugging your electronics, and having a shorter shower in order to help the planet. To quote a famous monk, Matthieu Ricard, who wrote the book Altruism, “Focus on selfless love, the fervent wish that all sentient beings may find happiness and the causes of happiness. Let the loving kindness permeate your mind and rest in this all-encompassing feeling of altruistic love.”
After reading this article, I encourage you to start your own “giving project.” It can be as simple as once a week. Turn towards giving, and I guarantee that you will live a meaningful life. Please share your stories of giving with me at emilymarymaccosham@gmail.com or reach out to me on Facebook at Emily MacCosham. Good luck!
The Author
Emily MacCosham is an educator and aspiring life coach who lives in Yeonggwang, South Korea. She enjoys learning about culture, psychology, Buddhism, and philosophy. She enjoys connecting with new people and cherishes her friends and family.