James Hetfield has shared the lessons he took away from Metallica’s charitable endeavors through their All Within My Hands charity. The frontman added that although though it was the “corniest” lesson, it was nonetheless valid.
The band founded the foundation in 2017 with the goal of “assisting and enriching the lives of members of the communities who have supported the band for years, as well as encouraging participation from fans and friends,” taking inspiration from a tune on their 2003 album St. Anger.
Millions of dollars have been raised since then for a variety of causes, such as food banks, disaster assistance, and educational initiatives, and supporters are urged to engage in volunteer work in their local communities.
Even if it sounds cliche, there isn’t a nicer feeling in the world than lending a helpful hand to someone else and keeping it a secret. .. “I need this; you give me that; I need to take this” goes against everything that makes us human. Particularly when I was a kid and we were in a band and we would fight over the only towel in the motel or whatever else, or we would say things like, “There’s a can of food there; I better get mine or else.”
He went on, “[D]espite everything I’ve learned, the corniest saying, ‘it’s better to give than receive,’ is so true,” adding that his experience had taught him how to go from “that sparseness mentality” to “completely the opposite.”
Continue reading: The Lessons James Hetfield Acquired From Metallica’s Charitable Foundation
Hetfield said that, for him, the best of the foundation’s work was “the ability to sponsor people into restarting their life or giving them sense of hope, giving them a trade that they can take anywhere in the world and feel that they are worthy.”
He reflected: “And it could be a little selfish of me, because I like doing that stuff…It’s not something I need to sustain me and my family, So it’s more of a hobby – but it’s a career for most people.
“You don’t take the time every day to realize that, ‘Wow, someone… built this couch we’re sitting on.’ … Someone else has taken the time to learn how to do it, and it makes our lives better. So why are they not respected as much as a doctor or a lawyer? … It’s kind of the same thing.”
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