In 1831, the 26-year-old Frenchman Alexis de Tocqueville went to the United States to study its penal system. De Tocqueville’s voluminous masterpiece Democracy in America assessed the promises and pitfalls of democracy. He cited political and social equality as the enabling factors of our Republic. In contrast, he called individualism the significant threat to democracy but observed that the exceptional compassion of Americans to help another in need keeps individualism in check.
Some may say those days are long past, but the statistics tell us something different. America gives more to charity than any country globally, 7 times more than Europe. During the Pandemic, total charitable giving grew by 5.1% to a record high of $471.44 Billion to US Charities. Individuals gave $324.1 Billion, and the average American gives 3-5% of income to charity. But all charity is not money.
There are many ways to contribute, from donating clothes or food, volunteering to walk dogs, or reading to kids in a hospital. Giving your time, help, and support are 3 contributions that cost nothing and have a great effect and a healthful reward. To help someone, you usually must do something, not just feel something. The key here is action. Compassion requires action, and that means it takes practice. So now is the time before Christmas to start the habit. Perhaps the best gift is to give your pure attention to whomever you engage with today!
