Generosity Day: Valentine's rebooted

What would happen if each of us were more generous? If we said yes just a little bit more? If we actually made a commitment to changing other peoples' lives, could we change the world?

I think so and as it turns out, there are a few people out there who think the same! More importantly, they are doing something about it.

One inspirational example of how we can all do good is Generosity Day, the idea of Sacha Dichter from Acumen Fund.  On 11 February 2011, Sacha unleashed an idea… to reboot Valentine’s Day as Generosity Day and to tell the world in 3 days.

It was out with the commercialism and overpriced heart-shaped tat of Valentine’s Day and in with saying YES. The world was invited to say YES to a request or opportunity making a personal change in people’s lives. On his blog, Sacha explained,   “it’s not designed to be a philanthropic strategy (“say yes to everything”). Rather, the whole point is to use the day … to develop a different practice of generosity in our lives – whatever that means to you.”

On 14 February 2012, Generosity Day returned with a vengeance:

Can being generous make us happy though? Mike Williamson of Action for Happiness, a movement of people committed to building a happier society, certainly thinks so.  Mike truly believes that “doing good, feels good” and that being generous brings all sorts of benefits including to our health. Interestingly, points to reseach showing how we choose our sexual partners not on wealth or looks, but on generosity (if you want some good pub banter, throw that last one into the mix…).

Sometimes changing the little things in our lives leads to something bigger and better, just ask Jim Carrey:

The generosity movement is gaining profile in all kinds of places, Mike Dickson's book Please Take One Step, for example, has been a huge success and he offers 10 steps to generosity here.

Choosing to become an On Purpose Associate is equally just a question of saying YES. If you’re interested in joining us come and meet On Purpose at Escape the City’s How to kick-start your career in social enterprise on Wednesday 21 March. You can register your interest at www.onpurpose.uk.com. I'll leave the last word to Richard Branson, "Life is a helluva lot more fun if you say yes rather than no ".