Chapter 18. Be a Giver
outside under shade trees. I use this time to organize the week ahead or just read the paper as I slowly eat my breakfast. Well, this particular morning I was at my favorite place under my shade tree. I was on the phone discussing two real estate deals I was working on, and one was not going well. So I was a bit frustrated and talking fast, writing, thinking, and making other calls to save the deal. I was getting frus- trated over a deal that I stood to make about $100,000 on with about a week’s worth of work. (Poor me, right?) As I was talking and writing, I stopped for a minute to eat. When I looked up, I saw a young girl sitting by herself. She didn’t have any breakfast in front of her, just her purse and a rolled up apron. She was probably leaving her shift at the restaurant, and was waiting for a ride. She was just sitting with her head down and with really sad eyes. You could tell something was troubling her. I wanted to talk to her and ask if she was okay, to see if she needed money for breakfast, but I also didn’t want her to feel uncomfort- able about a stranger coming up to her. I contemplated what to do. Finally, I walked up to her and said, “I’m leaving. Would you like the newspaper I have? I didn’t even have a chance to read it.” She replied, “Are you serious? Thank you so much. That is so kind.” Her face lit up with a smile like I just gave her tickets to Hawaii. I said, “You’re welcome and take care.” She thanked me again and then said, “This is just what I needed.” As I walked away she started reading the paper and waved again as I drove off. Now, I am not saying I changed this girl’s life with a newspaper. But I know she felt cared about, even if it was just for a few moments. So giving does not require a lot of money or a lot of time. It could be as simple as a smile, or a pat on the back, or asking some- one if everything is okay. We have all been blessed with the gift to give, and I promise that you have so much to give others already inside of you. Take advantage of it. Don’t expect to get it back in return and watch how things in your life start to change.
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