The Art of Giving

One of my most gracious gifts is the ability to empathize with others, looking at things from their vantage point. I have found that this has helped me extensively throughout my living, from problem solving to lending a hand. Recently I have ran into quite a few situations where strangers have asked me for things (usually money or food) and it made me think, what is it like to be in that quagmire? Although i do not know the answer i have found that giving can be most rewarding.

There were two consecutive instances where i went to a gas station and someone asked me for money or food. Each time i lent an ear and also spared some money for them. Now first i must say it is not my job to determine whether they are lying or not, because it is rhetorical, i have no way of knowing unless it is painfully obvious. I found it rather peculiar that each time i showed up someone approached me, however i try to be as pragmatic as possible so i thought no further. So as the symmetry of life slowly reveals itself, i found the very next two times i went to get gas two different individuals filled up MY tank. They are people i know so they aren't strangers but God saw fit to bestow gas upon me when i didn't even know it was coming. I should inform you that this is when gas was $3+ for a gallon maybe even $4. All i gave to those that asked me is a mere 2 or 3 dollars each time, that's pretty much all that was in my pocket. God didn't have to give me retribution or any of the like and that's not what i was looking for, I did it because i felt that it was my job to help others where i could. This is a rather special case so don't expect to get gas cause Wallo got gas.

Now i go to CVS by my house and it seems like there is ALWAYS someone asking for something, i now think to myself "this is getting to be out of control" (im just joking). But it made me think of Matthew chapter 25 where the Jesus talks about judging nations on how they treated those in need, clothing, shelter, and food. I understand that there were parables in that chapter but the same principle applies. I resolve that we should all take the time out to help somebody, and frankly the next time someone ask you for a buck to get some food if you are skeptical you can buy the food yourself. Like my man Mike Jackson said on his Dangerous album we have to "Heal the World".

That picture is complex and multi-dimensional, i am not going to burden your brain too much though. Just know that the picture is called "The Giving Tree".

Who Can You Help Today?

Can I get my MS on? Motivational speaking. Before I delve into this, a lady at Panera Bread ask me if I was a psychiatrist this week. I responded and said in a way "yes". However I urge everyone to ponder for a moment; who can i help today? Not in a random way either, I want you to think about your talents and what you are good at and offer them to a friend or a family member. People need to be outlets, resources, or avenues for other people and their talents if they can help them. There are so many talented individuals that never get to come out of the water for air. I understand that some people are not motivated but most people want to do productive things they just don't know the path to tread.

I usually don't like talking about myself but here we go. I think about myself and I reflect on how good it felt to help someone else excel and/or proceed. I have assisted with biographies, press releases, album reviews, company profiles, and etc. My principle for doing so was just to help advance whomever I was helping, understanding that we are more productive as a unit then we are individually. And suppose they advance a great deal in their field and they need more writing work, then they said I know the perfect person, subsequently I bring someone along when i need help and the web of excellence just keeps expanding along with your resources. We should all be familiar with the phrase "there is strength in numbers", we need to execute that. Here is a harbinger for what is blossoming in my life (you guys get the exclusive): I was trying to work on my logo for my company and I was having a tumultuous time, one day i abruptly realized my brother is extremely artistic and i have a friend that does graphic design such as web pages and logos. Then it occurred to me that i have another friend who has his own branding company and has created logos for others as well. Aside from them i have a host of close friends/family that have an excess of talent. I easily have enough around me to start an empire and its the same way for a lot of us we just don't realize it or take advantage of it.

So my behest today is to take the initiative and offer help to your fellow man and start the web of excellence. If you read this blog post then it was written for you specifically. "One man dreamt of becoming something while the other stayed awake and became"