Never more than I wanted to hear, I also grew up in an alcoholic household with no food on the table. I try to give as much back as I can, and help as many people as possible.
When all is said and done, we are remembered by the things we have done in life, when you help yourself, you feel nothing, when you help others the feeling of worth is like nothing else in the world. Working for money is ok, and having a thanks from a client is nice, but seeing the changes in people in an online community, is so satisfying.
Odd thing to say, but the more you give in life, the more you get back. Not in monetary terms, but in so many other ways, ways that matter more than money. An out of the blue email for example.
A few months back I got an post made on my rugby forum, it was from a soldier who was in Iraq. He said that he was leaving for home the following day, and that we (the members) will never know how much the forum has helped keep them sane. He went on to say that while he was out on the streets facing potential death, what kept him sane was the thought that at the end of the day, for 30 minutes, he would be back home in Wales with friends. After he posted that over a dozen others said that they were in the same situation. They all thanked me for putting the forum together! I felt so humbled, and proud at the same time that I had helped fellow human beings who needed help.
It's a funny old thing is life
