- “To be able to give away riches is mandatory if you wish to possess them. This is the only way that you will be truly rich.” – Muhammad Ali
- “No one has a right to consume happiness without producing it.” – Helen Keller
- "The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive.”–Albert Einstein
- “Be as beneficent as the sun or the sea, but if your rights as a rational being are trenched on, die on the first inch of your territory.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
- “The best gifts are tied with heartstrings.” – Author unknown
- "You can’t out give God.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
- "The first step in receiving is giving.” – Catherine Ponder
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Quote of the day:
“A man’s bank account doesn’t indicate whether he is rich or poor. It is the heart that makes a man rich. A man is rich according to what he is, not according to what he has.” — Henry Ward Beecher Reflection: Here is a thought provoking article by Peter van Gorder, which was published in Activated Magazine some years back. Knowing that I am actively involved in several charitable projects here in India, an acquaintance introduced me to some of his friends from the business community at a party we all attended. They happened to be discussing The Giving Pledge, an initiative headed by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. Those three had challenged 400 American billionaires to commit to donating at least 50% of their net worth to charity and social causes in their lifetimes. “This is really taking on in India as well,” one of the men at the party said with the excitement of a child announcing that the circus was coming to town. As it happened, there was an article in that day’s newspaper that quoted social commentator Santosh Desai. “Indians have always been generous people. Corporations can take a lead from Tata [India’s largest business group] who have institutionalized philanthropy, making it an act of corporate social responsibility and not charity.” An insert calculated that if India’s 100 richest individuals took up The Giving Pledge, a total of over 250 billion dollars—a quarter of the Indian GDP—would be raised. It’s hard to grasp those kinds of figures, or to imagine ourselves in the position to be so generous. The wealthy can afford to give, while we sometimes struggle to make ends meet. But where there is a will, there is a way. For example: A 24-year-old London man named Jack Diamond biked through India for two weeks to raise funds for a Goa-based charity that helps street and slum children like those he had gotten to know on a previous visit. “It never crossed my mind to do something like this before,” he explained, “but I wanted to make a difference.” I’m not suggesting you bike across your country to raise money. This is, however, an example of where there is a will there is a way. There are many creative ways to give, even when we don’t have much cash ourselves. See what you can come up with and share your ideas in the comments. Here are this week’s quotes on our relationship with money.
“To suppose, as we all suppose, that we could be rich and not behave as the rich behave, is like supposing that we could drink all day and stay sober.” — Logan Pearsall Smith “A man’s bank account doesn’t indicate whether he is rich or poor. It is the heart that makes a man rich. A man is rich according to what he is, not according to what he has.” — Henry Ward Beecher “We can tell our values by looking at our checkbook stubs.” — Gloria Steinem “Blessed are those who can give without remembering and receive without forgetting.” — Princess Elizabeth Bibesco “It is not so hard to earn money as to spend it well.” — Charles H. Spurgeon “Life is tragic for those who have plenty to live on and nothing to live for.” — Author Unknown “If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life.” — Billy Graham Quote of the day:
“Money is a form of energy that tends to make us more of who we already are, whether it’s greedy or loving.” — Dan Millman Reflection: We often recognize the need to make the world a better place. Fulfilling this obligation is seldom easy or painless, and one thing that often holds us back is our own financial situation. We have only so much money, and it only goes so far. Altruistic intentions come up against day-to-day constraints. Our hearts go out to others, but must we sacrifice on their behalf to our own hurt? If we do, how far will it go? How long will we be able to keep it up? I think you’ll find an interesting, inspiring, and innovative answer in the story below. You don’t need to be Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, or one of the world’s other 1,208 billionaires to make a difference. You just need the motivation and a plan. You might not be able to change the whole world, but you may be in a position to change a small part of the world or even just one family’s world. When Toby Ord, a 31-year-old academic at Oxford University, read that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg had pledged to give away most of his wealth in his lifetime, Ord, who was a student at the time, devised a plan of his own: give 1 million to charity in his lifetime. He figured he could do this by giving away everything he earns annually over the average income in the UK. He started his giving while on a student’s low income. Applying the methods the World Health Organization uses to determine how far aid money goes, Ord has given to date 10,000 years of health for people in some of the poorest countries in the world. Ord also challenges others to give 10% of their life earnings the same way. The first year, 64 people joined his Giving What We Can initiative, pledging 14 million between them. This is just one idea of many ways to give. I’m sure you will come up with your own unique way of giving. Please share your ideas in the comments. |
AuthorThis blog is designed to provide inspiring stories, quotes and articles proclaiming the good things people are doing. We hope it gives you good ideas and inspires you to do good yourself. Archives
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