"It wasn't just a religious mandate in those days, we also had a military service draft, the Peace Corps, and frequent food drives for the hungry. President Kennedy urged us to ask what we can do for our country. Each of my college application forms included a box in which applicants had to describe the contribution they wanted to make to the world."
"To contribute is to give something of value-time, effort, knowledge, kindness, or creativity -to others or to a cause larger than oneself. In doing so, we find purpose, communities grow stronger, and societies move forward. At its heart, making a contribution is not about grand gestures or public recognition. It's about an attitude-a commitment to improving the lives of others, however small the action may seem."
Catholic schooling in the 1950s instilled the belief that making a contribution was essential for mental and spiritual growth. Civic institutions and cultural prompts, such as military draft service, the Peace Corps, food drives, and presidential appeals, reinforced a public ethic of contribution. That widespread desire to serve eroded over time as narcissism rose and the ideal of selfless contribution faded, leaving charitable giving often driven by tax incentives. Contribution entails giving time, effort, knowledge, kindness, or creativity to others or causes larger than oneself. Everyday acts of help and creativity build purpose, strengthen communities, and produce ripple effects of generosity and cooperation.
Read at Psychology Today
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