I remember constantly being told to share as a child. It was a lesson that is still a bit abstract to me as an adult. When do I share? How do I share? When have I shared too much? Well, I usually figure out that last one pretty quickly. Because I never knew the boundaries of my sharing, I began to share EVERYTHING I could. I became obsessed with sharing whatever I would with those I deemed “in need”. I shared with reckless abandon. It had become so bad that I would feel guilty for giving the homeless man on the street five dollars instead of the whole ten dollars I had in my pocket. I was plagued with guilt about not having any cash at the exact moment someone needed it. I was plagued by guilt anytime I had to say no, honestly. I was a sharing machine. Until one day I realized that there was a BIG difference between sharing and giving. And I was definitely not doing what I thought I was doing. I was giving.

Imagine having a bag full of marbles. Now imagine pulling one out, sometimes two, and giving them to every person you meet. Eventually that bag will be empty. And there will be nothing left to give. Then what? Do you allow yourself to be riddled with guilt? Do you lose sleep over that one person you couldn't give to because the bag was empty by the time they asked? Now imagine that every time you pulled a marble out, you put another back in. That bag will never be empty, allowing you to hand out marbles all day if you so choose. Thats sharing.

I learned through experience that putting out more than you take in can really take an emotional toll. My mental health was a mess because although I was blessing others, I felt totally unworthy to be blessed by someone. I felt I had it too good to ever complain. But we all have needs, not at the same time or in the same way, but needs none the less.

Giving has always been taught to be the most wonderful, selfless thing you can do. But the problem is that through that lesson, we accepted the notion that we had to empty ourselves entirely for the cause to be worthy. Not true. I challenge you to replenish what you put out. Invest in the world around you. Take in the same light that you put out. We all have to cash in on it at least once in our lifetimes. That’s what I want us to do with feminine products. Sure, you may not need it now. Right now, you may have a maxi pad in your purse or glovebox just waiting for the day. But investing in this cause by donating, ensures that not only will a stranger in need have what they need, but maybe on that day you forget your purse, or your glovebox fails you, you too can have the help you need to get what you need, when you need it. Let’s make menstrual products more available for all of us. Lets invest in each other. I want all of us to have an endless bag of marbles. Don’t give, share!