Giving back, why you do it.

It's funny.

I had this conversation last night about how no one does anything altruistically, there's always a selfish motivation behind it. Whether it be a tangible thing to reach, a means to an end, or to feel better about yourself. Basically stating that it's never about helping, it's always about you.

And I took issue with that to some degree. Though my faith in people has become jaded of late, I have to believe at some level people are inherently good. See I volunteer a lot. Never had a selfish reason for it. But I was asked why I do it. Why I give back.

It was hard for me to answer, those things I give my time for I think are important. To give a smile, to give aid. But it was hard to answer. But I sit here now, watching this telefilm on HBO, Taking Chance, about an officer escorting a fallen solder home. And watching that service, not only by the officer, but by those who he encounters, talking about service, doing what they can because it's important for them to give back. To do something, if only to help for a moment.

And that says it in a nutshell. Giving back, don't do it for me, doesn't give me some sense of purpose. I don't care how others few me because of it. And at times it's even a huge frustration, and fills my life with task after task, never really leaving a moment for yourself or a life. But... I do feel, if you can, if you're able, giving back to those around you, helping others to make our world better... as corny as that sounds, it's important to do it.

I just hope a difference is made. I hope it makes someone's life better. Even if it's something as simple as giving a friend a smile, I hope someone's life is better for it.