Tag Archives: giving

Generosity is rewarding

I have a picky rule about Christmas. No lights, no music, no decorations until after my Birthday (November 21st). The rule isn’t about me being selfish about my birthday, it’s about me being selfish about Christmas. When Christmas Day rolls around I want to still be interested in hearing Christmas music, and enjoy the sights and sounds. I find the joy fades by Christmas Day if I feel like I’m celebrating for over a month.

Today my wife and I wrapped stocking stuffers, and I could see the thoughtfulness of these tiny gifts my wife bought out kids. It reminded me of how much joy there is in giving, and not just in receiving gifts. In fact, I think there can be more joy in giving than receiving.

I was reminded recently of an employee I hired at Starbucks. The best employee I ever hired, but I had to break a rule to hire him. The policy was every employee is interviewed by two people. The problem was this eager young man could barely speak English and he was so nervous that he did an awful job. But I trusted the customer who recommended him, a high powered lawyer with a ton of integrity, and I saw through this kid’s nervousness. He turned out to be amazing, and everyone on staff loved working with him.

Several months later his visa renewal was denied and he had to leave. It was really sad. He insisted on taking me out to dinner on one of his last nights in Canada as a ‘thank you’. He knew I gave him a break, I answered more than half his interview questions for him. It was obvious how bad it was and I still gave home the job. His work ethic paid off with dividends, but he was still grateful.

He took me to one of the most expensive Japanese restaurants in Vancouver, where we had about 10 or 11 courses. He stuffed me and complained that Canadians don’t eat enough. After dinner he gave me a bunch of gifts including a Gortex, waterproof jacket (I rode my bike to work daily, and my jacket was looking a little worn), a tennis racket, and other items that easily added up to more than his salary for a week. I felt bad accepting it all on top of this expensive meal we just enjoyed.

I really felt bad as the gifts kept coming out… then I saw it… the joy on his face. He was loving the moment. And I started to share his joy more than my guilt.

There can be great joy in giving as well as receiving gifts, and in some instances, the greater joy comes from giving. Enjoy being kind this holiday season!

How are you doing?

Really, how are you?

What are you doing to take care of yourself?

Who are you making an effort to connect with, to call rather than text, to see on video rather than just hear on an audio call?

What are your eating habits like?

Are you following an exercise routine? Going for walks?

Are you getting enough sleep?

Are you asking for or seeking help if you need it?

We have more to offer others when we first care for ourselves.

Let the holidays begin

It’s the last day of school before the holiday break and I’m really looking forward to the time off with my family! I’m already eating too much, and so my treadmill run this morning will be longer and slower for a good calorie burn, and I will try to keep up my time-restricted eating to prevent some of the late-night snacking. But I will also indulge a bit too. Last night I was in bed by 8:45pm, I can tell that I need a break.

One thing that I always think about this time of year is how different the holidays are for many of the students in our schools:

  • Some will have holidays that make us envious, while some will stay cooped up at home with ‘nothing’ to do.
  • Some will celebrate the holidays with presents, some will not.
  • Some will eat to their heart’s content, some will eat whatever they can get.
  • Some will feel the love of a complete family, some will feel the loss of a loved one more than any other time of the year.
  • Some are excited about the break, some are dreading it and wish it wasn’t so long.

We sometimes forget that the joy we feel for the holidays is not always felt by everyone. For those of you in schools, pay attention to who might need a bit of your time and attention today. Celebrate the start of holidays by spreading some cheer with some of the kids that need it most.

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Also, if you are in the spirit of giving, help Inquiry Hub Student, Andrew, raise money for young teens that will have very little over the holidays. Support Covenant House in Vancouver.

Happy holidays!

Giving from the heart

I love this video:

I’ve consistently noticed that kids will be selfless when they have an opportunity to show their love and appreciation for family. I’ve also noticed that this generosity increases with students who have less than most. That’s worth reflecting on!

On the topic of giving, here is a wonderful story about how an Inquiry Hub student, Andrew, ended up raising an incredible amount of money for Covenant House.

Andrew is continuing to raise money for them this year. If you are inclined to support homeless youth and youth in need, please consider a contribution.

Thank you and happy holidays ahead!