A Chic Paris Lockdown – Day 9 – Generosity

In Fiona Ferris’s book, 30 Chic Days, Day 9 is “Support your signature charity.” In this chapter, Fiona highlights the chic feature of generosity. The outer elegance and grace that we wish to experience is an expression  of our inner grace and calm well-being. When we choose to think and speak in a positive and uplifting way (as discussed yesterday in Day 8), we are showing social generosity – giving warmth and lightness to ourselves and to our companions. In a similar vein, when we demonstrate other forms of generosity, we show compassion (the wish and action to alleviate another creature’s suffering.) Fiona presents a lovely way of being generous in a unique and chic way – by picking a “signature” charity. Her idea is terrific for all of us who feel a genuine desire to share in our good fortune and abundance but often feel overwhelmed by the vast need that exists in our world and the endless array of possible charities. I’m not the American billionaire, Warren Buffet. My pool of resources in no way compares to his. The amount that I can share has limits. Fiona movingly expresses the reality that it is very unlikely that any of us will individualy rid the world of hunger or disease or misery. She consoles us that it is enough that we give what we can to the cause we most strongly support. In this way, we do help – even in a small way – the cause closest to our heart. In the strange alchemy of compassion and generosity, we ourselves achieve a measure of happiness and a sense of connection when we intentionally give to help others.

Right now, during this pandemic, there is a growing sense of economic panic as the world economy reacts to the dramatic measures nation have taken to restrict the spread of CoVid-19. There will be greater need than ever in the coming months (and maybe years) as those among us who live right at the edge of financial desperation are pushed over that cliff by the current economic melt-down.

My husband and I have two signature charities that we support – one that pays for “low-income” pets to be spayed or neutered in our old home town and one that runs a retirement home for the impoverished elderly. In both organizations, we have hands-on visibility into the operations and how donations are spent so we feel very comfortable that our contributions are used in a manner that is congruent with our intention.  Given this recent turn of events, we have decided to increase our donations.

Here in locked-down Paris, what I see of the needy on a day-to-day basis has changed dramatically.  Before lockdown, I saw many street beggars panhandling in front of boulangeries, grocery stores, at corners and at metro entrances. (The growth in the number of street beggars here in Paris in the last few years is astonishing and profoundly depressing. Please be advised that if you come to visit Paris in the (post-crisis) future that there is an enormous population of street beggars, wrapped in shawls, sitting on sidewalks with a paper cup set out. These aren’t the colorful musicians playing violins and accordians at metro stations or on metro trains.) Walking down the street from my children’s school to a near-by metro – a distance of maybe 500 meters, I would pass at least 6 street beggars.  Since I walk early in the morning, I would see them arrive around 7:30 am from the bus stop or metro station to set up at their spot. Post-lockdown, the street is empty.  (One is not allowed to venture farther than 1 km from one’s address.) With the sharply reduced number of people outside and the stringent government restrictions on movement, I worry about this at-risk beggar population.

If you are interested in ideas about how to live with elegance and wise financial management, Fiona has written an excellent book titled, Financially Chic.  There is also an interesting popular movement in the United States called FIRE (Financial Independence-Retire Early.) I enjoy reading Tanja Hester’s blog, OurNextLife.com. (What is nice about Tanja is that, like Fiona and her husband, Tanja and her husband successfully put together & implemented a plan to work and manage their money with the intention of achieving financial independence earlier than the usual retirement age.) 

Most importantly, let’s be extra compassionate and generous in whatever form that best speaks to our hearts with ourselves and others as we navigate this crisis period and afterwards.