Lessons from Cuba: Generosity and Greed – how to give more and take less

By Dr Jemma Regan

When we think of generosity we may think of money, yet there are many ways to give. During my short time in Cuba, one of the last remaining communist states in the world, I received more displays of generosity than I have received in my whole lifetime of living in a capitalist country, with one of the world’s strongest economies.

A recent dispute with my landlady, regarding her refusal to pay for repair work in a property in London - one of the most expensive cities to live in the world - prompted me to reflect not on the merits of communism vs capitalism (although this is important), but on the issue of greed. In a ‘progressive’ society, it seems people want to take more and give less.

I describe four ways Cuba and it’s people gave to me and how we can learn ways to give more to each other:

Laughter

I laughed so much with the strangers of Cuba. Belly busting, lung clearing laughing. The language teachers at the school, my salsa teacher and people I met in the street all had a smile and a joke. I was invited in to a person’s home who had nothing; he rewrote each year by hand, the dates on a calendar ten years out of date. The hardships in life brought perspective and reiterated not just the importance, but the necessity of finding joy in the mundane.

Conversation

I had some fantastic inspiring conversations with the people of Cuba. Not only the residents but also the people who had travelled there from Germany, Switzerland, Italy and gave the time to really listen and really speak. Some of these were deep and profound, some were simple and kind – such as the grandmother of the homestay I was living in, who, every morning, sat with me and patiently explained each word for the breakfast items until I had learned them.

Food

Cooking and sharing a meal is one of the most nurturing things you can do. With food in short supply through rationing, I perceived this gesture as even more valuable. In your life, it could be as simple as sharing a chocolate bar, making a sandwich, cooking someone a meal or if you’re feeling extravagant - picking up the bill in a fancy restaurant.

Possessions

A teacher at the language school was wearing a plastic ring. I commented that it was nice and she took it off, slid it casually across the table and gave it me. A gift. This in turn made me more generous towards others. An instant ripple effect was created. I realised how little I needed the possessions I had taken and came back wearing little more than the clothes I was wearing! The cook in the school really liked a green patent bag I had bought in Amsterdam. I gave it to her. The generosity of the spirit shown by Cuba and it’s people liberated me from the notion of ‘possession’. If you own something, share it! :-)