By Chris Quilpa

Great satisfaction comes from sharing with others. Sharing is the most precious religious experience. The pleasure of all reading is doubled when one lives with another who shares the same book. There is no joy in possession without sharing. There is no joy in life like the joy of sharing. The best way to multiply your happiness is to share it with others. Wisdom is the reward of experience and should be shared.

Sharing responsibility in relationship, marriage, at home, and at work is an indication that there is giving of oneself, caring for, and loving the other or others.

Sharing what we have — everything we’ve known, learned, taught, owned and possessed, read and researched — can make a difference in the lives of others.

Teachers and educators are doing this sharing of themselves, out of love and without reservation, for their students. They do their best, sharing their time, talents and treasures, to help make all of their students excel and succeed in school and beyond.

I don’t want to keep what I know and what I’ve learned. I want to share it with others.

If sharing is loving, then I, as a senior citizen, am  guilty of it, because I love to share what I have — talent, time, treasure. I have a passion for writing my thoughts and ideas, and that’s why I love sharing them. I’m sharing moments spent writing my thoughts with you. And if someone has read it and was enlightened, encouraged or inspired to do good or better by my shared thoughts and ideas, then I believe I’ve made a difference in the life of that individual.

I share my time and talent, and treasure when I prepare something, like cooking a dish, for my family and friends, and acquaintances, instead of me resting on a comfy couch to nurse my chronic lower back pain, fibromyalgia and glaucoma.

Despite my physical disability, I try to be a good volunteer to our fellow parishioners during church service. I do it with my wife, Freny. If someone assigned to serve was not available, either one of us is ever ready to do it. Sharing is also a sacrifice, a form of sacrifice for the betterment of others.

I contribute and donate frequently to my parish community, because the money will go to various programs and projects my church is involved with.

As the saying goes, no man is an island. You need me; I need you. We complement and supplement each other. Just look at ourselves. Where did the clothes we’re wearing come from? The food we eat, where did it come from and who produced it? They are the products of many hands. Hence, we need each other in order to function as a community where there is sharing, collaboration, cooperation and teamwork.

We share ourselves to the one we love. Because we love them, we want them to be happy, to grow and succeed and be the best that they can be in life. Sharing our joys and sorrows, dreams and frustrations is such an altruistic human activity and characteristic that differentiate us from other creatures on earth.

We see sharing in schools — teachers who share their knowledge, talents and skills, and even experiences just to inspire their students to learn and excel, stay and succeed in school. In business, we see sharing in preparing food for the customers, in treating and serving customers with respect, courtesy, and excellent, quality service.

In hospitals and clinics, we witness the sharing of knowledge, thoughts, experiences, ideas, time, talents, skills, even treasures. Doctors, nurses and medical staff brainstorm and discuss ideas on how to make their patients get cured or treated.

Indeed, sharing is everywhere. We see it practiced every day — in homes, farms, churches, schools, industries and businesses, in police departments, courthouses, military establishments, even in entertainment, social media, film productions, and in space. Sharing is what keeps us all alive and going, and moving forward.

Chris A. Quilpa, a retired U.S. Navy veteran, lives in Suffolk. Email him at chris.a.quilpa@gmail.com.