Giving

I live on a budget. So I struggle to give my money.

I'm nearly always busy. So I struggle to give my time.

I'm always occupied with my own issues. So I struggle to give my care.

image: onceandforeverwellness.com 

Giving is one thing I don't do much of. 

I donate monthly to a foundation that caters for the underprivileged. Been donating to them for 8 or 9 months now. I registered as a UN online volunteer to help make the world a better place by donating my time. I blog to share my ideas and issues, maybe someone will benefit.

Now you'll think I must be a good fellow, one who gives. Wait till you hear how much I donate monthly or how much time I've spent volunteering on the project I was attached to. And blogging isn't caring. Blogging is more like self-promotion. It sure benefits other people once in a while, but it's not because I'm caring. It's because I'm frank. We all like to be told the truth. And we feel helped by those who tell the truth often.

Now I'm trying to fix that. I hope to give more. 

Giving is the only way we multiple value. When you give out a valuable information, the value it creates multiplies. When you donate money to a worthy cause, that money goes very far. When you care about others and give them room in your thoughts (too bad I seldom think about others beyond not offending them; I need a urgent reform.) you make the world around you a much better place. 

We give when we plant trees, sowing seeds others will reap. We give when we volunteer for community cleaning (like I once saw Sterling bank staff do on one Saturday), putting beauty where there is dirt. We give when we fix a community road, put out a water tap in front of our house, adopt an orphan, smile to the homeless, outsmart a danfo driver without cursing at him (they love it; it boosts their morale).

Giving is living in such a way that everyday you fix a little of the mess in the world. You sleep every night knowing you'v made someone somewhere breathe easier and live better.

Personally, I don't give to churches. I prefer organizations that are specialized in providing a particular help -- orphanages, mission support, poverty alleviation...