I’ve been watching a lot of documentaries lately on inspirational people. From Martin Luther King Jr. to Gandhi and Bob Marley. The thing that was so inspiring about all of these people was their capacity to give. It was their capacity to Love and believe in something greater than themselves. It was to do something good and selflessly sacrifice, with the only reward of knowledge that what they were doing was right. But it is said that the only way to be happy is to give.
Everyone knows by his music that Bob Marley was politically and socially conscious, but I’m not sure that everyone knows just how much he gave of himself for the good of his country and for the good of human kind in general. I never knew just how much he gave. Not only did he give benefit concerts and speak out on injustice and on his belief in unity, but he kept the doors open to his home and put his life in danger multiple times for the sake of his work and what he considered his purpose. If everyone did their part and opened their hearts and minds even a fraction of that, imagine where we would actually be? Seeing someone be so selfless in such a way, you wonder what it is that you can do in this time and place, to do your part.
Anyone who has ever inspired a great movement was one who gave so much of themselves that they inspire others to give. But I’ve wondered many times as to the strength in my own beliefs and as to what I would give to uphold those beliefs. If I lived in 1963 would I have marched with Dr. King? If I was in Bob’s shoes, would I have still went up on stage after being shot, knowing there was a possibility that I could be killed on stage? But I do not live in 1963 and I am not Bob Marley. I am me and I live in Brooklyn in 2013. As of now, I see positivity as my only weapon. My words and my mind are my strengths.
Currently, I am looking for a volunteer opportunity to work with children and I wonder if it will hinder me with all of the goals I’ve set forth for myself. But what is a few hours out of the week to do something that benefits someone less fortunate/ experienced/ knowledgable? My good friend, Randy Griffiths is a successful trainer in the NYC metro area and owner of BBR (Body By Randy) Fitness. He works incessantly, yet he donates his time and expertise once a week (9am, Saturday morning at the East River Park on East 6th St. and FDR Drive) to run a bootcamp. He only accepts donations for this hour of training, because whatever is donated over the span of the bootcamp is put towards “Pencils for Kids,” an educational foundation aided for benefit kids in Jamaica. It’s his way of giving back. It’s a way for him to allow participants to do good for others, with the added incentive of doing something good for themselves and their health. It’s genius and selfless and inspirational.
What is it that you do that is selfless? Is benevolence a virtue you strive to attain? Is knowing someone benefitted from your gesture enough payment? Is karma enough? Would you keep it simple, or start a movement? There are so much going on in the world. How are you going to “give back?”
I’ve recorded a cover of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song,” for this post because I believe that every day is another day to redeem ourselves for anything that we lacked before. We can start today with releasing instilled negativity (racism, bigotry, greed, sexism, etc.) and accepting and projecting positivity into the world. Each generation has an opportunity to continue to build from the previous generation’s good deeds. Every generation has an opportunity to rethink the bad deeds of the previous and work towards fixing what’s been broken or askew. Whether you want to promote education and self-esteem in young kids, give time at a nursing home or just simply wake-up everyday with an open heart and mind. Everyday is a day to do something good.
If you’re stumped for an idea, come to the East River Park at 9am on Saturday, donate to “Pencils for Kids” and workout with a group of equally positive people! You can visit http://www.bbrfitness.com/about.html to get a better look at the trainer and his unique approach to his craft.
Enjoy!
LiberTeeLove 