This is the final post in a five-part guest blog series by Savanna James discussing her breast cancer journey. See the first installment here. I hope you'll read and share them all!
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| Photo by Deanna Webber |
A very good friend commented on a recent Facebook post of mine saying, “I don’t know how you manage to find time to do everything you do!” And I laughed because I don’t have the answer to explain how I do in logistical sense, but I do have the answer on why I do as much as I do. It can be summed up by a Winston Churchill quote.
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
To me, personally, happiness is the ability to make a difference in the lives of others. If you just meander through life concerned with yourself and what you gain, you will be forgotten. Your true potential only comes when you begin helping others. You are remembered for what you did and the impact that you had on those that came into contact with you, whether it be directly or indirectly. And, to quote one of my favorite musicals, “Hamilton,” “History has its eyes on you.”
Whether it be St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Susan G. Komen, The Boon Project or a platform that is close to your own heart, it matters and you can spark a change. You have to enter each day knowing that the purpose of your involvement is to genuinely make a difference, not to be praised.We have to give back to the community who raised us in order to support the next generation. Without community service, we aren’t a united nation, we are just a population independently living its life. Community service is what connects us to each other and lets us learn other cultures, people and situations.
I have already decided to dedicate the rest of my life to sharing my story, and I hope that it inspires others to do so as well. When one person speaks the truth, it allows all us to do the same. If you use your voice to share a story, no matter how big or small, you are allowing the opportunity for someone’s voice to be heard. And I hope this is mirrored in my work and my life.
I know that my story is just one in a sea of many, but I hope that my voice is enough to spark a wave that creates awareness. I want to be a disruptor, igniting a fire that inspires others. You have to understand that you can’t just try to change the world. You have to find something that you love and do that every day for the rest of your life, and eventually, the world will change.
If you feel compelled to donate to either organization, you can do so at the links below! And if you want to follow along on my journey, please follow my personal Instagram page @probablyvannajames!
Love you all and thank you for being humans that provide hope, whether it be through your kindness or community service. Kindness and love are not finite resources. Give them freely and as often as you can - you never know whose life you can change.
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I can't thank Savanna enough for allowing me to share her story.