What I Learned from Uncle Earl's Generosity

My hubby Carl, desired to be a physical education teacher. So when I obtained a teaching position I encouraged him to go back to school. I could support us and he could complete a lifelong goal. All went well, and Carl soon completed his second year. At that time I discovered I was expecting. We decided to stretch Carl's $100.00 per month veteran's benefit allowance. We had a place to live rent free since we were dorm parents for young men attending college. Carl earned extra for cleaning the dorm, while I worked part time in the PR department of the college. With very little money we met all expenses. Barely!

Travel times consisted of a 300 mile trip to and from home during holidays. Both our families gathered to celebrate and we wanted to be there, especially when Scott was born. At the same time Carl took our car to Uncle Earl's garage for oil changes, brakes fixed, etc. Maybe our car was over the hill... Hmmm... See what you think.

Uncle Earl, an upstanding Kiwanis leader and down to earth Pontiac dealer, lived in a small country village in western New York. His white hair and round steel rimmed glasses perched on his leathery face gave the look of an earlier era. At the gas station, Uncle Earl would briskly approach you with a smile and hearty greeting, as he wiped grease from his hands on oily cloths. He stuck to work and business so you'd not discern he might have other things on his mind, too.

Scott was a real hit in his newborn Santa suit that first Christmas. Everyone passed him around and admired him at the family gathering around Uncle Earl's table. Following the hearty meal, Uncle Earl took Carl aside and told him he had a 1956 Pontiac station wagon - an older, one-owner in excellent shape he'd like us to have while Carl attended school.

The gift of this sturdy car, perfectly fitting our needs, truly surprised us. It replaced a vehicle extra ready for retirement. The real shock rooted from the fact that giving the car revealed a side of Uncle Earl's character unknown to us at that point.

After his death we learned that he overlooked some folks' overdue bills, actually not collecting some when he could have. Maybe he knew they were unable to pay.

Interestingly, researchers at the University of British Columbia and the Harvard Business School find that it's possible to buy happiness after all: when you spend money on others. Psychologist Abraham Maslow calls this self-actualization - people express themselves most fully when contributing something valuable to others. Generosity's the outward manifestation of strong Intrapersonal intelligence. The more you practice it, the more you rewire your brain for openhandedness.

Uncle Earl often said he wanted to live to be 100. He died in his 99th year and almost reached that birthday, vigorous, keen of mind and active till the end... As I look back and reflect today, I feel a warm spot in my heart. His life's a reminder to me to pass his generosity on to others. Uncle Earl experienced the first depression... and came through knowing how to stretch money and be generous to others at the same time. Wow!

I created this piece to contribute to Robert Hruzek's What I Learned from the Generosity of Others challenge.

Robert will collect other contributions through midnight, December 7th. Why not send him an entry of your own?