I feel we live in a world that is becoming more and more individualistic. It's probably partly due to the competitive nature of professional life, the illusion that fame and fortune is key to happiness and the lost of community based relationships. Interestingly enough, all experts agree that going beyond yourself, lending a hand to the less fortunate, is an essential part of happiness. So, if we are all pursuing happiness, why aren't we all out there volunteering our time and helping those in need?
A little girl named Rachel Beckwith understood that. I didn't know her story, but on
Friday, I received an e-mail from my cousin Chris with a link to an article published in the New York Times. I found her story touching, inspiring, but also very sad... so, I've decided to share it with you, my readers.
Rachel Beckwith was born in Issaquah, Washington. At the age of 5 years old, Rachel heard about an organization called Locks of Love, which uses hair donation to make wigs for children who have lost their hair because of cancer and other diseases. She asked her mom to cut her hair and send it to the organization. After doing it once, she told her mom she wanted to grow her hair again to be able to send it once more a couple of years later, which she did.
At the age of 8, Rachel's parish was having a fundraiser for an organization called charity:water which works at building wells for African communities. Rachel was shocked to learn that some children in Africa didn't have clear water, so she decided to try to raise money herself for the cause. She asked her friends and family not to give her presents for her birthday, which was on June 12th, but instead, to make a contribution for that organization. She created a birthday fund that she posted on the organization web page. She wanted to gather 300$, but only managed to raise 220$.
On July 20th, Rachel's family got into a car accident. No one got injured except for Rachel, who went into a coma. When it became clear that she wouldn't regain consciousness, word spread about her wish to raise money for that organization. Contributions to her fund have now reached over $850,000. Rachel tragically died on July 23rd of this year.
The first thing that comes to mind is why? It seems so unfair to die so young. Her small contribution to humanity truly serves as an inspiration. Not everyone is meant to do volunteer work or initiate fundraisers for great causes, but helping others, even in the smallest way, can definitely make a difference in this world. Also, take advantage of every minute of your life, because, in the end, you never know what the future holds!
If you like this post, pass it along. To receive posts as they're being published, you can either send me an e-mail at alina500daystohappiness@hotmail.com or join the facebook group: 500daystohappiness.
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