Holiday Open House - a lesson in generosity.

Each year, approximately four weeks before Christmas, my veterinary hospital holds our annual Holiday Open House and pet/family pictures with Santa.  This year Friday November 30^th was the day.  The Open House has been a tradition of ours for the past 20 years and my team has become quite proficient at the execution of the event.   We collect donations of pet supplies and gifts from our vendors to provide doggy/kitty gift bags to each pet attending.    Our employees volunteer their time and energy as we work to collect money for several local charities.   The opportunity for family and pet photos with Santa (also a volunteer) in exchange for a small donation to charity, and a “Toys for Tots” collection station, provides an energetic and altruistic environment. Each year I marvel at the dedication of the volunteers and the generosity of the clients and friends that attend.

The event is always a great lesson in giving and is why I feel inspired to address the subject of generosity.

The Open House is attended by a variety of pets and their extended families.  They arrive in many variations of creative holiday attire and pose for a photo with our Santa.   Santa is always the most generous human in the room as he volunteers his time to wrestle everything from wiggly puppies to a hundred-plus pound Newfoundland.  He has held pet birds, frightened cats, trembling rabbits and even a four-foot long snake.    Yep, this year we had a snake visit Santa’s lap.  He sits patiently for hours as children cry, cats scratch to escape and dogs lick at his bearded face. Our Santa and everyone on our hospital team shine as terrific examples of patience and true generosity of spirit.

Generosity is defined as giving more than is expected without thoughts of getting something in return.  Actual rewards may not be expected but the positive feelings that come from our generosity are their own reward.

I believe that most of us are wired for generosity.   We may not always realize that we possess it, but we feel it instinctively.  It is that part of our subconscious that urges us to help someone when we see them struggling with a heavy package or door.  It is the part of you that wants to give your waitress a big tip when you realize that she is having a rough night.  

Generosity makes us feel GREAT and if we practice it regularly it is very empowering.

Placing yourself in any situation in which you can give of yourself will create a feeling of power and self-confidence.  It does not always have to be generosity with money.  Generosity comes in many forms, generosity with time, with talents, with positive thoughts and kind words.   The more we are generous, the more we will feel positive energy in return.  We will get joy out of giving and that is why most of us are so inspired by the holidays.  We may feel stressed and overwhelmed by the busyness of the season, but in the end the reason we value the holidays so highly is that they give us many opportunities to practice our generosity.  

It is important to remind yourself that you have a choice to behave generously.  Not just with your money but with your time, talents, and energy.  The choices that you make each day may bring joy to others, but will most certainly bring enrichment to your life.

“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” 

Albert Einstein

Please share your positive experiences of generosity here, so others can share in your story.

Dr. Julie Cappel