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Inspiration

Generosity is good medicine

n addition to gifting people in our immediate circle we see someone else help another person "it gives us a
at this time of year, many of us also step up our good feeling, which in turn causes us to go out and do
philanthropic efforts. Some are able to fund entire something altruistic ourselves."
I charitable events, such as community tree trimming
parties complete with hundreds of toys to give away; oth- Helping others can also strengthen friendships. "When
ers get up early when they'd rather sleep in and stand at you help others, you give off positive vibes, which can rub
buffets for hours, dishing up free holiday meals. Whether off on your peers and improve your friendships, accord-
the amounts given are large or small or the time spent ing to a study by the National Institutes of Health," wrote
volunteering is long or short, every act makes a difference. Kimberly Yam, Asian voices editor for HuffPost. "Both
parties will contribute to maintaining a mutually benefi-
Then there are folks whose intentions are good; they cial dynamic."
want to help better the lives of others during the year-
end holidays. But something unexpected occurs to throw More than right
them off: they might, for example, experience a major data According to the Mental Health Association, face-to-face
breach that severely impacts their business and takes huge activities such as volunteering at a drop-in center can help
amounts of time to remedy, or someone in their family reduce loneliness and isolation. And for some people who
might need help in a crisis. lean toward pessimism, having a regular positive impact
on other people can shift their outlook toward optimism.
At times like this, giving to community groups or strang-
ers can fall way down the list of priorities or disappear That's an impressive list of benefits from taking actions
from it entirely. that most of our parents taught us long ago were just the
Givers gain too right things to do. Many in the payments industry have
taken this lesson to heart and give generously through-
Don't let this happen to you, because giving to others ben- out the year, devising technology that makes it easy to do-
efits the recipients of your kindness, sure, but it also ben- nate a small portion of each transaction to charity, hosting
efits you in several ways, according to numerous health fundraising events at association meetings for causes that
professionals. For instance, researchers have found that matter to attendees, and more. It's uplifting to know that
helping others can increase your happiness, lower your giving kicks into high gear as each year draws to a close. I
blood pressure, provide relief from chronic pain, and even hope we all give what we can and feel the benefits rever-
help you live longer. berate throughout the coming year.

And generosity is contagious. According to a study by
University of California, Los Angeles, and University of
Cambridge and University of Plymouth in the U.K., when
Kate Gillespie, President and CEO

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