Give...until it feels good.

I love this picture.  I have a copy of it on the cover of the notebook where I keep my financial records.  Of course it's a ridiculous way to be charitable, but the over-the-topness expresses some kind of truth.

An article at the Vox website is titled, "Giving money away makes us happy.  Then why do so few of us do it?" by Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson.  They say, 

We find a strong and highly consistent association between generous practices and various measures of personal well-being like happiness, health, a sense of purpose in life, and personal growth. In our book we discuss the various causal mechanisms that produce this association. While greater well-being can encourage generosity, practices of generosity also enhance well-being. The causal mechanisms we identify involve everything from reinforcing positive emotions to developing a sense of self-efficacy to expanding social networks to increasing physical activity. Generosity, for example, often triggers neurochemical systems that increase pleasure and reduce stress. It also has the capability of reducing the maladaptive self-absorption that many ungenerous Americans experience. By giving away some of our resources for the well-being of others we can enhance our own.

They then go on to say, that "at least 85 percent [of Americans] give away less than 2 percent of their income." There are a number of reasons why people don't give, but it's kind of discouraging.  I wonder what would happen if everyone gave away at least two percent or more of their income and maybe two percent of their time as well.  It seems like it could change the world.

(This article suggested by Andrew Sullivan @ The Dish)