While working at a non-profit one day a fax came in about a natural disaster in Tibet. About 80,000 Tibetan nomads were trapped in a huge blizzard. They couldn’t move, had no access to a reliable source of drinking water and were running out of food. They also were unprepared for the extreme amount of snow and low temperatures so some of them were freezing to death.
Their yaks, the animals they use to transport their tent yurt homes, were bogged down in the snow and were dying too. The nomads use yaks for milk which is an important food and protein source. Yak dung is also used to make fires. Without yaks, they wouldn’t be able to move their tents and other essential items, have yak milk or have fuel for fires. The situation was a huge disaster, and Doctors Without Borders was trying to help them by providing medical relief, food, water, clothing, blankets, shelter and transportation.
I immediately wanted to help. At the time, I was working at a Tibetan charity so of course there was an immediate connection to the situation. I started researching media outlets, got their fax numbers and forwarded the press release we had received from Doctors with Borders.
I contacted mostly major newspapers, but got no responses except from the San Francisco Chronicle. In the next day or two I provided some background information to a journalist there. He went on to write an article that was published in the international section of the Chronicle and it helped raise $55,000 for the relief effort. Our non-profit also made a donation as did the American Himalayan Foundation and the Dalai Lama’s organization.
This was the first media placement I had ever facilitated. Initially I didn’t have that intention, I merely wanted to try to raise awareness about what was happening in Tibet. During the process of this attempt I had a brief phone call with the communications coordinator from Doctors without Borders. She said I was doing a very good job, although to put it bluntly, I didn’t have any media placement experience. I was merely trying to do whatever seemed like it might be effective.
This entire experience could be summed up in one word — purpose. Contributing to the greater good is an action we can undertake at any moment because it is an essential part of being a concerned, aware person. Once we understand there is a need to help, a drive may become engaged within us that we didn’t know was present. We might not understand exactly what is happening within us but we are mobilized in a focused way to pitch in and try to improve the situation. In fact, these moments can also be when we experience selflessness.
Purpose is a word used by some to describe contributing to the greater good. Author Daniel Pink has referenced it as an essential aspect of motivation.
Have you ever worked much harder than normal when there was a need to help others?