The weather has turned bitterly cold, the end of the semester is upon weary students and the distracting thoughts of Winter Break are alive and well. The search is on for strength to get through the final week of classes and for money to please your respective families and friends.
It sounds like an enormous ball of stress, but it can all be cured with a little philanthropy.
After all, the foundation of Christmas is constructed from selfless giving and bringing joy to others. Therefore, it makes sense that as the trek toward the middle of December and the end of the semester nears that you don't shovel the thought of giving back to the rear of your mind.
What would you do if someone offered you a steak dinner or a large sum of money? Well, if you are similar to most Americans who are consumer-happy, you would probably take it without hesitating or questioning their motives for giving it to you.
The idea of being consumer-happy was evident a few weeks ago when the Sony Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii were launched within days of one another. Some consumers lined storefronts for days hoping to get their hands on one of the hottest items in 2006. In one case a man was shot, while waiting outside of a Wal-Mart store in Putnum, Conn., waiting to purchase a Playstation 3.
That kind of extreme action shows how self-centered some individuals have become; but what is often lost in the winter snow flurries is the idea that philanthropy efforts substantially outweigh the good feelings of buying yourself the latest invention.
One well-known philanthropist in Indiana is Mari Hulman George, the chairman of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and gives monetary donations to institutions of higher education. She is also known for annually shouting the command "Gentlemen, and lady, start your engines" at the beginning of the Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400.
As students, we often need something to start our engines to press on through the final week of school. This doesn't mean to rush to the local drug store to stock up on caffeine pills in preparation to cram for Finals Week, but rather to give yourself a boost by donating a little of your own time or money toward helping others who may be in need.
Oprah Winfrey, a famous philanthropist, pulled a unique stunt on Oct. 30, 2006, to direct people toward the giving frame of mind. She gave everyone in her studio audience a $1,000 Bank of America debit card to take home, but insisted that they have to spend it on someone else besides themselves and their relatives.
She may have been helping herself, while helping others as recent scientific studies on the effects of assisting others in need have shown that people engaging in philanthropic efforts gained more potential to be happier, healthier and live a little longer. The feel-good chemical in the brain, dopamine, when measured during an MRI brain scan, has been shown to become more active when a person performs the act of giving and in a sense gives them a "helpers high."
Now, my challenge to you: The next time you walk by a bell-ringer for the Salvation Army, drop some loose change into the collection bucket or search for a unique opportunity to donate your time to others. The smiles they give you and your efforts will make your level of anxiety feel weightless.
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