I think people are still willing to give in a way they know how, whether it be their time, energy, spirit or money. They will give where they know that their resources will be used for something they believe it.

Yes, I believe in karma.

From donations to sponsoring a child, to helping someone move to buying 5 roses for a few dollars and giving them to people at grocery stores, it was the biggest gift to be able to give.

I reckon we forget how important the little acts of kindness and caring can be! How about the gift of time? We can all find time for what’s important to us even if we can’t find it in our budgets to give..

Tia @TiaSparkles

So, what of giving in lean times and karma? I think it comes down to being creative. People want to be altruistic, it’s just that they have that limited capacity. So go outside the typical “please give to X cause” and engage folks with different approaches to THEIR needs and problems. I like the karma yoga deal. Sure, they’ll get burned by some but overally I bet it’s a positive experience, at BOTH ends of the relationship.

I need to help a company raise somewhere on the order of 750k over the next 5 months, and I am hunkering down to work a plan based on my feelings outlined here. If I hope to simply ask people for a few bucks, sure I’ll get some here and there. But ultimately I’ll fail. I need to come to a solution that fills contributors’ emotional pockets before I can hope to line a charity’s physical ones. Now how might we do that…?

I didn’t know that Karma Yoga classes existed either. I would be more apt to attend a class with that kind of attitude as a foundation.

This might seem trite to some, but a simple “thank you” and a “you’re welcome”, while not expecting a return of your sentiment, does put good energy out there.

My Dad, one of the nicest guys I know, taught me what you put out there you get back and that being ‘good’ is its own reward. I have proven his theory over and over, and sometimes by being not-so-good. Karma is definitely a real thing.

Donation is also something that I have taken to of late. This summer I looked at my bookshelf and realized that there were books sitting there that I had not touched in years. We donated them all to charity.

That felt so good we did the same thing with our closets.

With the Xmas season upon us and the economic woes being very personal this year we are asking that we exchange cards only if someone insists. But, we think we will suggest people give Kiva loans in the amounts they want to spend on us to someone who needs it. I have enough ’stuff’.

I was aware of micro-loans but not Kiva. Thanks for the tip.

Have an awesome day.