Mirth and Motivation

“I believe that we all have a responsibility to give back. No one becomes successful without lots of hard work, support from others, and a little luck. Giving back creates a virtuous cycle that makes everyone more successful.” Ron Conway

Motivation Mondays: GIVING BACK

For in truth it is life that gives unto life – while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness. Khalil Gibran
I was always taught about the importance of giving back and helping those less fortunate. I think it’s also incredibly rewarding. Claire Holt
Volunteering is a great way to look outside your own problems. Giving back to makes you happier by both giving you a sense of purpose and helping to put your problems in perspective. Karen Salmansohn
Giving back is something that comes from the heart to me. It’s not that I do it because it’s the right thing: I do it because I want to do it. Henry Kravis

When do you Give Back? When we talk about Giving Back, we often think about the holiday season and our various acts of charity in our communities and beyond. However, the act of giving back is an endeavor that demands we remember to reach out, lend a hand in/out of our communities, help another person in need, and give of our abundance on a daily basis. To give back is to remember that we are full and able to share of our abundance. To give back is not just to have the means to do so, it is having the will and desire to do it without prompting or cajoling. We do not need to have a room filled with gold coins to feel abundant because abundance is an inside job. It is a feeling of gratitude and a willingness to reach out and help another soul. Often, we sit and wonder how we can be expected to give of what we have when some of us feel we have so little. But the act of truly giving is magical. It is magical in the sense that it doesn’t require enormous wealth. What it requires is a receptive spirit and a desire to give of our time, goods, or even ideas.

When should we give? It is a habit that is worth developing because the inner joy and sense of duty and service that comes with giving cannot be described fully. If we develop the habit of giving back in some small way every day, we will see it grow until it becomes second nature. We reach a place within where we don’t even have to think about it; it becomes an unconscious act of blessing others and ourselves.  The little secret of giving is that it blesses us too. When we give, we open our hearts to receive the abundance of the universe and it shows up in serendipitous ways. To Give Back is to see ourselves as our brother’s/sister’s keeper. We do it because we must. We do it because we know that it returns to us and our progeny tenfold. Every day, we do it because our spirit soars in gratitude and we know that we are raising the bar in our energy sphere and beyond.

READ: Motivation Mondays: GIVING SEASON #mondaymotivation

Giving Chapter V by Khalil Gibran
Then said a rich man, “Speak to us of Giving.”
And he answered:
You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?
And tomorrow, what shall tomorrow bring to the over-prudent dog burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows the pilgrims to the holy city?
And what is fear of need but need itself?
Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, thirst that is unquenchable?
There are those who give little of the much which they have – and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome.

And there are those who have little and give it all.
These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.
There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.
And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism.
And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue;
They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.
Though the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.
It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding;
And to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving
And is there aught you would withhold? Contd below

“Giving back, doing motivational speeches and stuff like that, that’s always made me feel good. If you repeatedly go out there, and you are the change that you want to see, then that’s what you are.” Keke Palmer

Motivation Mondays: GIVING BACK

Motivation Mondays: GIVING BACK

I believe in giving back very strongly. Sanford I. Weill
I’ve always had a passion for giving back. It’s a family tradition that comes from my devout parents. They were always giving back and serving the community. So when I became fortunate enough and blessed to play the game of basketball, I was also fortunate enough to follow in my parents’ footsteps and give back like the way they did. Dikembe Mutombo
Hope and purpose in this world is living as best as you can and maybe having life that gives back. But simply giving back isn’t purpose; it’s a branch of purpose, but it is not the trunk or root of the tree. Nick Vujicic

Is Giving Back the domain of the wealthy alone? Absolutely NOT! Each of us has the ability to give back through volunteer work, helping folks in our communities, working with organizations that help the homeless  and by teaching our children to share. since the foundation of a charitable spirit begins in our homes, we must make it a priority to teach out family to help others and give back. By giving back to our local and even our global community, we are reinvesting in the progress and success of all who benefit from our generosity. That very act of giving back, circles back to us and reverberates in many directions that we might never even know.

If you read the story of the Dog in the Manger, it might remind you of someone you know. Or perhaps of yourself when you are feeling selfish?  The dog was adamant about protecting the hay. In his selfishness, he couldn’t see that the hay would not feed him. He had access to his own food. Sometimes we hold unto things that are of no use to us instead of giving them back to hose who need it. We all need to let go of the greed, stinginess and lack mentality. To give to others does NOT diminish what we have, it enriches our spirit and reminds us to be grateful. Start today… while doing your Cyber Monday shopping or even on Giving Tuesday tomorrow. It is never too late to give back.

READ: Inspiration: A Thanksgiving Memory…

A Story: The Lesson of The Dog In The Manger
People frequently begrudge something to others that they themselves cannot enjoy. Even though it does them no good, they won’t let others have it. Listen to a fable about such an event. There was a wicked dog lying in a manger full of hay. When the cattle came and wanted to eat, the dog barred their way, baring his teeth. The cattle said to the dog, “You are being very unfair by begrudging us something we need which is useless to you. Dogs don’t eat hay, but you will not let us near it.”   The fable shows that it is not easy to avoid envy or greed or confusing over sharing/giving to others; with some effort you can try to escape its effects, but it never goes away entirely.’ Steinhöwel‘s Esopus (c.1476) via Wikipedia

Giving and Taking by Khalil Gibran
Once there lived a man who had a valley-full of needles. And one
day the mother of Jesus came to him and said: ‘Friend, my son’s
garment is torn and I must needs to mend it before he goeth to the
temple. Wouldst thou not give me a needle?’
And he gave her not a needle, but he gave her a learned discourse
on Giving and Taking to carry to her son before he should go to
the temple.

The details for Motivation Mondays are below. Join in! The themes for OT/NOV 2017 are:

OCTOBER 

10/01 – World Communion Sunday, Int’l. Coffee Day, Nigeria Indep. Day, World Vegetarian Day, 02 Child Health Day,
04 Feast of St Francis of Assisi, World Animal Day,  05 First Day of Sukkot, 06 World Smile Day
10/08 – 09 Leif Erikson Day, Columbus Day,  Indigenous People’s Day/Native Americans’ Day, 10 World Mental Health,
11 Int’l. Day of the Girl, Come Out Day, Sukkot ends, 12 World Sight Day, 13 Friday the 13th
10/15 – 16 Bosses Day, World Food Day, 19 Diwali, Spirit Day
10/22 – World Mission Sunday, 23 Mole Day, 24 United Nations Day, 28 St Simon/St Jude, Nat’l Chocolate day
10/29 – Nat’l. Cat Day, 31 Halloween

NOVEMBER

11/05 — 05 Guy Fawkes, 7 Election Day,  10 Science Day, 11 Veterans Day
11/12 —  13 World Kindness Day,  14 Diabetes Day, 16 International Day of Tolerance, 17 National Unfriend Day
11/19 — 20 Universal Children’s Day,  21 World TV Day, 23 Thanksgiving Day
11/26 — 27 Cyber Monday, 28 Giving Tuesday

Are You Looking for Ways to Stay Creative in 2017?

– Join the Daily Post Post-a-day or Post-a-week Challenge.

— Join the BlogHer Writing Lab

More Below! Read more…