Recent months have been volatile with dramatic geopolitical events, financial markets expressing uncertainty, and the underpinnings of our society seeming to come unglued. Emotions are high. How should generous people respond during these times?

When life gets crazy, many of us are tempted to hunker down and wait for the storms to pass. It’s a natural reaction. Gather your loved ones near, and shelter together. Remain with the familiar, stay with the tried and true. Close the drapes, and put on (more) Netflix.

Sr. Ann Kelly inspires me: “Choose Life, only that and always, and at whatever risk. To let life leak out, to let it wear away by the mere passage of time, to withhold giving it and spreading it is to choose nothing.”

Generosity requires action, and cannot be paralyzed no matter the weather. Financial realities may mean funds are limited for traditional levels of giving. But giving can happen in more ways than in writing a cheque. Share knowledge and expertise. Volunteer with skills you possess. Reimagine how you engage. Find ways to push yourself out of your comfort zone, and be a solution for someone in need. Don’t let life leak away.