What an adventure I am having....

My intentions were to do a blog every month, but here I am on week 8 of my first module: Fundamentals of Philanthropy, where has the time gone! What an adventure I am having.

In the last 8 weeks, I have read books and articles by Philosophers including Maimonides and Seneca; watched a video of Bill Gates, including him sharing a story with students at Harvard about a note his mother gave Melinda the night before their wedding day quoting “to those who much is given, much is expected”.

I have attended webinars with my amazing fellow students of Senior Fundraisers, experienced Freelance Consultants, Solicitors and Asset & Wealth Managers. My cohort span the world, as far as Hong Kong, Canada and USA, we chat on a whatsapp group regularly as if we have known each other for years.

I have submitted my first 2,000-word critical book review and I even quoted Aristole in a recent client pitch.

I have found the confidence to contribute to the online forums on topics including ‘The influence that the church has had over time on charities of today.’ And ‘The Gift Exchange’ learning that when an individual donates it is considered as an ‘act of kindness’, and that the importance of giving is more about the gesture of giving rather than the actual act of giving by the benefactor, to me that is such a wonderful way to look at donations and in fact any gift. When we receive that birthday or seasonal present, we just really didn’t want; take a moment to consider the act of kindness rather than the gift.

I have 4 weeks to go until the end of my first term, 4 weeks of new topics, 4 weeks of reading, watching, learning and forum contributing AND I have a 4,000-word essay to plan, read around the topic and write by early January.

I am not sure what has come over me. But what I do know is that I have never felt so inspired and energised and eager to learn as I do right now.