Podcast: The Power of Giving

 

Full Transcript
Released 4/30/24

PODCAST OPEN:           

You’re listening to the Live Yes! With Arthritis podcast, created by the Arthritis Foundation to help people with arthritis — and the people who love them — live their best lives. This podcast and other life-changing resources are made possible by gifts from donors like you. If you’re dealing with chronic pain, this podcast is for you. You may have arthritis, but it doesn’t have you. Here, learn how you can take control of arthritis with tips and ideas from our hosts and guest experts.

 

MUSIC BRIDGE

 

Pete Scalia:

Hi, and welcome to the Live Yes! With Arthritis podcast. My name is Pete Scalia, your host for this episode. I am a TV host, media personality, host a show in Cincinnati called “Cincy Lifestyle,” and also started a nonprofit with my wife called the PS Never Give Up Foundation that aims to help people, like myself, who dealt with infertility, while also managing chronic illness.

 

I was diagnosed with severe rheumatoid arthritis when I was about 30 years old. And working in media, I always sort of considered it an obligation to get the word out about arthritis and dispel many of the myths associated with the disease. And being involved with the Arthritis Foundation for a number of years, that's when I noticed that common theme of never giving up. And that's what we wanted to apply to our nonprofit and also sort of being involved with the Arthritis Foundation at the local and the national level.

 

And one thing that I really noticed being involved with the Arthritis Foundation is how selfless so many people are when it comes to the Arthritis Foundation and the power of giving from volunteers or giving monetarily and supporting the Arthritis Foundation and its mission. And it really is something that's powerful, especially with a chronic condition like arthritis.

 

And I think we can all agree that giving is good, whether you're donating your time, your money or just committing simple acts of kindness. There's no denying that power of giving and altruism can help both the giver and the receiver mentally and emotionally. In fact, research shows that giving can ultimately translate to improved physical health, even reduced pain. But how does altruism help, and why is giving so good for us? And how can we give even when arthritis challenges us emotionally, physically and financially?

 

Well, in this episode, our expert aims to answer these questions and help us explore altruism at its core. And with that, I want to introduce our guest today, Dr. Teoma LaShawn, doctor of physical therapy. Welcome to the podcast, Dr. LaShawn.

 

Dr. Teoma LaShawn:

Good morning. Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate being here.

 

Pete Scalia:

Yeah, so Dr. LaShawn, tell us a little bit about yourself and your experience with arthritis.

 

Dr. Teoma LaShawn:

I am a physical therapist. I have been practicing for almost 15 years, and in addition to being a physical therapist, I wanted to mention that I'm also an ordained Baptist minister. And so, a lot of the work I do involves the intersection of faith and health. I treat patients with arthritis every day.

 

I take care of patients who are dealing with knee pain or hip pain or even arthritis in their hands or arthritis in their shoulders or who end up having to have joint replacements due to complications of arthritis. Or sometimes I deal with some people that have rheumatoid arthritis as well, but primarily osteoarthritis out in the orthopedic world.

 

Pete Scalia:

All right, well, you had my attention at joint replacement. (laughter) I have two new hips, new knees. I always joke with my friends, I have more replacement parts than their cars do, I think.

 

In the introduction, I dropped that word altruism. People might not be familiar with the meaning of that word, but what is altruism?  And why is that and giving in general really so important?

 

Dr. Teoma LaShawn:

Well, altruism, to me, is basically giving back because of your concern for other people, for the well-being of other people, people you may know, people in the community or in society that you care about, wanting to make a positive impact on that. And thinking more about those things, even sometimes more than what you're thinking of, “Well, what will benefit you personally the most?” So, that's what I believe the definition of altruism is.

 

And it's important because I think giving back is... One, I would like to just say I was really excited about doing this episode because I love the topic of giving back, but I think that giving back is important because it just ties people to a purpose and helps people gain more meaning in their lives.

 

Pete Scalia:

I love that definition of that. And I know that, you know, obviously, giving, volunteering, that that helps the recipient of that giving and the volunteering. But how and why does giving also help the giver, specifically, when we talk about people living with chronic conditions, like arthritis?

 

Dr. Teoma LaShawn:

I think the biggest thing is the mental and emotional impact that giving has. So, when someone is able to give back, most of the time they're doing it because they care about wherever or whoever they're giving back to, but it brings joy. It brings peace. It brings satisfaction because you're giving because you want to. You're giving because you have the desire to. You're giving because it is something that is, one, going to make the individual better or a society better, but you have a direct impact on that. And I think that's why it is so beneficial to the giver because of the impact that it has.

 

Pete Scalia:

I wonder if that's why we see so many people, you know, specifically in our community, in the arthritis community… There's something about just about everyone I've encountered through different Arthritis Foundation events — whether it's doctors, volunteers, everyone that's been touched by some form of arthritis — really seems to express that altruism just in the way that you described it. Why do you think that is?

 

Dr. Teoma LaShawn:

I think that people love being connected to something that they can see benefits happening. So, like with the Arthritis Foundation, for example, last year I was one of the keynote speakers at the Pathways Conference. And it was a conference full of volunteers, just like you said.

 

And I think that people just enjoy being tied to something, one, that they have a direct connection to, but people also enjoy being able to have an impact on the world around them, having an impact on people that they care about, having an impact on issues that they care about. And if they can do that  through volunteering their time or even writing a check or sharing some expertise or information that they know that might help somebody else live a better life, then who wouldn't want to do that?

 

Pete Scalia:

Oh, definitely. I know there's been some research done into altruism and giving back as well, right?

 

Dr. Teoma LaShawn:

I haven't actually looked into the, you know, journal articles or anything specifically when it comes to what research says about it. But I do know that there are mental health benefits. I know that there are physiological benefits. I know just the enhanced feelings of well-being and enhanced feelings of joy, the ability to have that happiness and peace in your life because you've given back. Those are all benefits that people embrace when they are giving back.

 

PROMO:

Want to help grow our movement and conquer arthritis as a volunteer? There are lots of ways to get involved with the Arthritis Foundation and make an even greater difference. To get going, check out arthritis.org/volunteer.

 

Pete Scalia:

When it comes to folks in the arthritis community, with any of the more than 100 different types of arthritis: On a daily basis, you're dealing with pain, fatigue, even emotional exhaustion, and it seems like those would be obstacles to giving back. But I guess, can giving back also help with those symptoms?

Dr. Teoma LaShawn:

I definitely think so. So, with all three of them — pain, fatigue, emotional exhaustion — I encounter that every single day when I am treating clients in the clinic. And when it comes to giving back and being a part of something bigger than yourself, sometimes just knowing that you have an event this weekend or a month from now, something to look forward to, will motivate clients to do more of their PT exercises so they can have the strength and have the ability to walk the Walk that they're going to walk; or to have the stamina to attend the event that they're going to attend.

 

The opportunities that are coming up for people to give back are opportunities for people to get healthier, to get stronger, to work within their bodies so that they can have the capability to do those things that they enjoy. It is a motivating factor, and so, because of that motivating factor, it helps the mental stamina to help someone look forward to what they're going to do, but also will help people push past the fatigue sometimes, or push past the pain, or learn how to manage the pain so that they can participate in those activities that bring them so much joy, as is relates to giving back.

 

Pete Scalia:

I love that. Having something to look forward to can definitely help with a lot of things. What are some simple ways to give back and sort of remain in that mindset? Like, even if we're looking forward to, say, maybe something like the Walk to Cure Arthritis, but then we get there, and we're experiencing a flare-up, and we're kind of in the thick of it with that pain and the fatigue. What are some simple ways, though, that we could still give back while we're going through that and still get those benefits?

 

Dr. Teoma LaShawn:

I think there are a number of things that people can do. You just have to do something. Let's say it's the Walk, OK? And let's say you get to the Walk, and you can't participate because your knee is just really hurting that day, and there's just no way you're going to make it through the Walk. You can just go have conversations with people. Or if you're at the booth, have conversations and encourage people who are there, or tell your story. You know, sometimes people just really need a story to hear to help motivate them. Maybe you can sit down and help put together the gift bags or the things that people are going to pass out.

 

If you are unable to make it at all, there's a way that you can write a thank you card. Or write an encouraging note to participants who have finished. And this is just one example of ways that people can give back. But another thing is: I encourage people to do things that they enjoy. People are always going to be more involved in something that they enjoy. But also, maybe you have expertise in something, and it's not necessarily related to arthritis, but you might be an expert in financial wellness coaching.

 

And there's an event coming up that you may be able to help with, and you want to say, “Hey, I want to give 15 minutes of my time to this event.” Or “I want to write about this.” Or “I want to go online, on social media, and make a post about it. I'm going to tell my story.” Or “I'm going to share this post, and I'm going to ask my friends to share this post, because this is something that I deeply care about.”

 

So, whether you're writing, whether you're online, whether you're there in person… As long as it's something that you enjoy and you know that you're giving to something that you care about, that's the most important thing.

 

Pete Scalia:

Wow, even just hearing you talk about it, I'm getting excited about it, too. There are many different ways that we can give back. It doesn't have to be something physical. I really love thinking out of the box like that and coming up with creative ways to give back. What would you say are some of your favorite ways of giving back, Dr. LaShawn?

 

Dr. Teoma LaShawn:

So, I really like being present, being involved right there with the people. So, some of the things that I do as a part of my outreach is going to health fairs. I set up my physical therapy table, and I provide free screenings, or sometimes they may be heavily discounted screenings. And I might see maybe 20 people, you know, in a day, which is a lot of people.

 

The most recent health fair that I did was the Black Joy Parade here in Oakland. And I was able to do a screening on someone's shoulder or someone's knee. A young girl's ankle who wanted to participate in salsa dancing. The five to 10 minutes of interacting with these people and giving them just, you know, one or two tidbits of advice and to help them get through the festival, make it so they can have a fun day outside or go to that salsa dance class in the next week. I like being right there. I'm a physical therapist. I like getting my hands on people. That's what I really love to do, for me personally, to give back.

 

But I also love teaching. I'm an ordained Baptist minister. So, like at my church, I will teach vacation bible school or teach Sunday school. I like being in front. I was a keynote speaker last year, so I like being in front of the people. I'm a very people-oriented person. (laughs)

 

Pete Scalia:

Well, and I love, too, when you talk into, you know, your work as a pastor. Faith can certainly be a strong driving force, too. When you're at those events, even just sometimes, you can give back just by listening. Because I know it feels like a lot of people dealing with arthritis might feel isolated. It's kind of an isolating disease for many people. So, maybe sometimes even just listening could be very helpful in a good way of giving back, do you think?

 

Dr. Teoma LaShawn:

I love that you mentioned that because people like to feel heard. And a lot of times, whether I’m at a health fair or in the clinic, the patients that are going to think that you’re the best therapist ever will be… It may be a session where you didn’t even do anything but just listen to them because so many health care providers are so busy. You know, we're so busy all the time, but just taking that moment to listen to people and allow them to tell their story is very powerful. People just want to be heard. They want to feel like they're being heard, and they want to feel like you care. And so, if you can provide that space for people, then you've changed the world already.

 

PROMO:

The Arthritis Foundation couldn’t do awesome things without your support. Your donation fuels our powerful movement to advance arthritis research and resources, like this podcast and much more. Every dollar makes a difference. Give a gift now at arthritis.org/donate.

 

Pete Scalia:

Changing the world by giving back, a little bit at a time. And Dr. LaShawn, how could we start giving more today? How can our listeners start giving more today to sort of reap these benefits? It's mutually beneficial, right? The people we're giving to are going to experience something. We're going to experience something ourselves, too. So, how can we get started?

 

Dr. Teoma LaShawn:

Think about a cause that you truly care about. OK? And once you know what that cause is, and it could be the Arthritis Foundation, but think about a cause you truly care about and go online, look up the website, see what's happening in that space, and see if there's anything in your area that you want to get involved in. Or do a social media post. Go live. Or write something about that specific cause and tell your story.

 

Or, my sisters and my mom are very crafty — you can even make things, and you can pass them out to guests at different events that may be upcoming. There's so much out there in the world.

 

You can look online, see what events are coming up, and just say, "This is what I'm going to do next weekend or next month." Or "This is how I'm going to give." Or " I have this much money that I want to set aside. I'm going to write this check to this organization because I really love them." Like, whatever gets you excited, do that. And you're going to experience the benefits, and the people that receive from you are also going to experience the benefits.

 

Pete Scalia:

I love that you mentioned going online to do things, because before each episode, we like to post a question on social media. So, for this episode, we asked: "How does giving back or volunteering make you feel?" I'm going to share a few responses that we got back online from people responding.

 

Somebody with the handle 4disneynuts, going to Disney would make you feel good too, right? They said, "Volunteering for the Arthritis Foundation for the past 10-plus years has been an uplifting and empowering experience. Sharing our son's and family's JA journey has been so rewarding, and helping those who aren't aware understand that #kidsgetarthritistoo. And what we all go through has been the most rewarding gift. I'm so thankful for the Arthritis Foundation having been there for our family since day one of our son's diagnosis and helping us share our story through so many different avenues."

 

doctorgingers says, "Volunteering makes me feel happy. It gives me a sense of purpose that I lost after RA resulted in a necessary medical retirement from my job as a primary care physician with the VA. And helping others is in my soul, and having the ability to volunteer at the Charles Schulz Museum enables me to share my passion and knowledge with visitors, like I did with my patients." Dr. LaShawn, you could probably relate to that. I mean, imagine if your livelihood and what you're used to doing, because of your condition, is taken away, you could still find ways to give back, right?

 

Dr. Teoma LaShawn:

Absolutely. And the common theme that I heard in those threads that you read was that those people were able to share their story, and that gave them purpose. Even if it's not on a big platform, it just… Maybe talking to someone at your next physical therapy appointment, somebody that you may be in a gym with and sharing your story, or a family member who has just been diagnosed. It doesn't have to be huge.

 

It can be small. Sharing your story, talking to people, it benefits you and it benefits the person hearing your story. Because now they have hope because of what you shared.

 

Pete Scalia:

A couple other ones here. gertiejiajourney says giving back makes her feel “Involved, worthwhile, more positive, despite the negativity of the situation and the challenges faced.” mcguirepamela says, “I love how my volunteer opportunities can make a true difference in someone's life.” And cindysenk simply says that giving back makes her feel “Grateful.” And I think that's something that we can definitely agree on, too, right? Just that: the feeling of gratitude all the way around.

 

Dr. Teoma LaShawn:

Yeah, I've heard that gratitude is very powerful. If you think about just one thing that you're grateful for each and every day, that's just going to make your day better and your life more meaningful.

 

PROMO:

This spring, Walk to Cure Arthritis — to help power the mission of the Arthritis Foundation, which empowers people to take on the daily challenges of living with arthritis. Let’s walk – and conquer – arthritis together! Find an event near you at WalkToCureArthritis.org. And register today!

 

Pete Scalia:

Well, Dr. LaShawn, to close each episode of the Live Yes! With Arthritis podcast, we like to typically share our top three takeaways from the conversation that we just had in this episode. So, what would you say were your top three takeaways from this episode about giving back?

 

Dr. Teoma LaShawna:

I think my top three takeaways about giving back are: One, that giving back is going to have benefits for you as the giver, and it's going to help who you're giving to. Two, giving back is going to provide you that joy, that peace, those mental and emotional benefits that you can't always receive just from maybe doing exercise.

And three is share your story, no matter how big of a platform or how small that's going to help people around you and people even beyond that. So, share your story, social media, at your PT visit, to your family member or relative, to someone newly diagnosed. Yes, those are my three takeaways. And I just really want to thank you all here at the Arthritis Foundation for having me. I really love this topic. And just thank you so much.

 

Pete Scalia:

Oh, that is so great, Dr. LaShawn. I love those things. I was coming up with three takeaways, too, just from talking with you today. One thing that I thought was really powerful: You mentioned looking forward to something. And I think people listening to this, you know, having something to look forward to could definitely affect your well-being. And then when you're there, that could affect the well-being of the people that you're giving back to.

 

That sense of encouragement, like you said something, that simple acts can be encouraging. You know, maybe if you're in the moment, you're experiencing a flare. It might be difficult to go to that Walk to Cure Arthritis, but there are still ways that you can give back if you can't necessarily attend an event in person. And then finally, I love the fact that at the end there, we touched on gratitude.

 

And Dr. LaShawn, I have to say, as the guest host of this episode, we are grateful to have people like you who are willing to take the time to talk with us about something that people might not think of. But it could be a really simple way of sharing your own personal story, your own personal experiences, and maybe uplifting others in the process.

 

Dr. Teoma LaShawn:

Absolutely, absolutely. I love all of your takeaways. I'm like, "Oh, yeah, we did talk about that." (laughs)

 

Pete Scalia:

Well, Dr. LaShawn, thank you again for taking the time. And for those of you listening, thanks for listening to this episode of the Live Yes! With Arthritis podcast. Be sure to subscribe. Check out all of our other episodes. And we hope to see you at an Arthritis Foundation event sometime soon. I'm Pete Scalia. And P.S., never give up.

 

PODCAST CLOSE:

The Live Yes! With Arthritis podcast is independently produced by the Arthritis Foundation. Gifts from people like you make our podcast and other life-changing resources possible. You can donate at arthritis.org/donate. This podcast aims to help people living with arthritis and chronic pain live their best life. People like you. For a transcript and show notes, go to arthritis.org/podcast. Subscribe and rate us wherever you get your podcasts. And stay in touch!