since 2020

Have you ever given donations? Why or why not?
How do you feel when someone asks you for money? Do you give freely?

Because I grew up in a Christian home, giving money was nothing strange to me. Christians give “offerings” during church services on Sundays. My mother always told me that all the money we had came from God, so we were just giving back to Him a little portion of what belonged to Him in the first place. Churches would use the money wherever it’s needed.

I remember seeing my mother giving donations to various organizations, too. She also sponsored children from developing countries. My father didn’t want my mother to work, so I could say it was my father’s earnings that my mother was donating. However, my father wasn’t against it, so I could say that both of my parents were giving the donations and I respect them for doing it.

After moving back to America, I had a little culture shock because I never had a homeless person ask me for money in Japan. I might be wrong but I think Americans are less hesitant to give money and also to ask for money since American history and culture are based on Christianity,

However, I was told to be careful because when you give money to homeless people, some of them use the money on alcohol or drugs, so when I was in high school, one of my best friends and I helped homeless people by buying them food and eating with them while listening to their difficulties in life. When I visited Southern Africa when I was in college, I was told that if I give money to begging children, their parents would just continue to make their children beg and not work, so I told them to watch the car while I was shopping and gave them money as a wage.

Even in colleges, there are many scholarships in America. Many graduates create scholarships to thank their schools and also to support those who want to study but can’t afford it. Most of my college tuition was covered by scholarships and I remember exchanging handwritten letters with my scholarship founders. One of them created the scholarship under their daughter’s name because she had passed away and couldn’t graduate from college. I also created a scholarship under my advisor professor’s name when he retired because I considered him as my mentor and my American father. I told the school that the conditions to receive my scholarship were that the student had to be a needy international student that was willing to join the choir because my advisor professor was a choir director and he was always looking after international students.

I think giving money would be difficult if you feel insecured. It would also be dfficult for you to give if it’s difficult for you to receive. In that case, we need to examine why it’s difficult for you to receive. Is it your pride? Are you doubting the giver’s good intention?

A few years ago, I read an interesting article written by brain scientists. They said that there is a part of your brain that produces hormones to make you feel happy, so they did a research to find out when it produces the hormones the most. I think some people would guess that it’s when you eat someting good, when you achieve your goals, when someone gives you compliments, or when you make love. Surprisingly, the scientists concluded that your brain makes you feel happy the most was when you help someone. In addition, it didn’t require any affirmation from others. When you help someone, even when no one notices it, your brain automatically and instantly produces hormones to make you feel happy. What a mystery of life!

At farico, we have decided to give one free session to our clients that give donations in December. We hope we can encourage people to give and also to receive to help each other more and more! We hope you can give freely and also receive freely so that you can give even more freely!

Merry Giving and Receiving Christmas!