What I Learned About Cash, Awareness, and Random Acts of Generosity

It’s easy to be myopic in our daily lives. Thinking about ourselves, our families, our careers, and other personal matters. Focusing on one task at a time. And probably walking past many opportunities to be generous, every day.

We’re not aware of these opportunities, because we aren’t looking. We’re not prepared for them, either, because in this credit card, debit card world, few of us carry much cash anymore.

But happily, these problems can be easily solved. And as a result, you can experience the joy and spontaneity of random generosity. (Just in time for the holiday season.)

Random acts of generosity can be exciting

They are exactly what “random” describes – unexpected and even outside our comfort zone. I’ve found that one of the best ways for me to practice random acts of generosity is to carry cash. I want myself to be ready for any opportunity to meet a need or bless someone. It teaches me to truly be aware of people and circumstances around me and to exercise a part of myself that I don’t flex enough – my selflessness.

At its core, random generosity is simply doing the right thing. It’s not part of a tax planning strategy. It’s walking around with cash and looking for an opportunity to be encouraging.

A great way to teach future generations about the joy of generosity

A couple of summers ago, we decided to pursue a generosity project with our family. We gave our children cash (broken into small bills). We asked them to randomly give it away over the next few months. We asked them to involve their own kids. And we created some rules.

Give to individuals, not organizations. Give in-person, not through the mail or a website.

Don’t give to anyone you already know (unless they’ve expressed a specific need). And don’t give it all to just one person. Keep track of where and to whom you gave. And when we get back together for the holidays, we’ll share stories and feelings about what we were able to accomplish with our generosity.

RANDOM GENEROSITY ISN’T EASY. IT CAN FEEL RISKY AND VULNERABLE. IT REQUIRES BEING IN TUNE WITH WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND US.

What we learned

You’d think that it would be easy to give money away to other people. But it can be hard, even risky. What happens if they say no? Or what happens if they get mad and turn away? For us and our adult children, it was easy to overthink things and have second thoughts about offering gifts to strangers.

But for the grandkids, in-person generosity came much easier. At their age, they hadn’t accumulated preconceived expectations or inhibitions. When they saw a need, they were motivated to meet it. They were readily spontaneous and joyful with their generosity, and they actively looked for opportunities to spread their newfound blessings to others, especially those in need. In so doing, they helped their parents see the needs around them.

EVERYONE, EVEN THE MORE EXPERIENCED AGIVERS AMONG US, BECAME MUCH MORE AWARE OF OUR SURROUNDINGS AND THOSE AROUND US WHO ARE IN NEED.

How to engage with people in need

Later, when we were sharing stories about our experiences, it became clear that some interactions were harder than others. For instance, what do you say to a homeless person on the side of the road?

I start by asking their name. Our own name is one of the most powerful words we can hear.

So, ask their name and then ask a question. “Does anyone know you’re here?”

Obviously, there’s only a short time available for conversation before the traffic light changes, so I try to make the most of the encounter. I give five or ten dollars. And I carry some cards from Hope Ministries with a phone number they can call to get a hot meal, a warm bed and other services.

“Here’s a little money. And here’s some information that can help.”

Bottom line, whatever it is you give, you’re not going to miss. But the potential impact it will have on the other person can be huge.

What we learned as a family

Everyone, even the more experienced givers among us, became much more aware of our surroundings and those around us who are in need.

We learned that it’s not our job to judge the circumstances of others. When you step into the world of generosity, you must strip away all your preconceptions about what the money will be used for. You have to be generous and simply let go.

All of us practice generosity more routinely, realizing that it doesn’t always have to be about money. Being generous can simply mean including someone. It can be as simple as a kind word or a kind gesture.

The key to it all is intentionality, which may seem odd when the subject is random generosity. But if you’re not intentional about carrying cash, being aware, and engaging people in need, you’re going to miss the opportunity to experience even more joy during the holiday season – and create an enduring family legacy of giving and sharing with others.