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Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Contemplating Giving

Hopefully this won't come off too high and mighty, but when it comes right down to it, I guess that doesn't really matter either.

I'm hoping to encourage "giving" in this blog. Giving back to your community, however you choose to define that.

For me, I spent quite a few years giving to the local (and not so local) mountain bike scene. Recently someone encouraged us to sponsor a race, partly because the promoter doesn't make a dime off of it. That wasn't news to me. Heck, for years I promoted a race series without earning a cent.

What I'm talking about is giving within whatever community you choose. Maybe it's your local biking scene, maybe it's your church, maybe it's doing some land advocacy. Maybe it's your local school. You define it for yourself because the end result will most likely be a good one regardless of what you choose.

For me, I've been giving at the school this year helping some 3rd grade kids with their reading skills one day a week. And I've been giving to some 3rd/4th grade kids by being coach of their basketball team.

With the reading, the benefit I get is spending some time with a kid who just wants someone to listen to them and offer them some help. Some are struggling. Some are doing just fine. They all like the attention regardless of their reading skills. I get to help and encourage them. Man, I want them to succeed in life! And reading is going to play a huge part in their future.

On the basketball court, I get to help encourage all kinds of good habits and behavior. We teach teamwork, discipline, hard work, and fun. We congratulate each other. We learn to show respect to those around us. And we get some exercise to boot!

The kicker is that doing this stuff is easy. It takes a minimum of commitment and it reaps a lot of benefit not just for the kids, but for me. It will do the same for you.

So the next time a chance comes up to help out in your community, take a couple seconds before you pass on the idea, and then step up to the challenge. Give of yourself for the benefit of others. And benefit yourself in the process.

Enjoy your evening.
-Kid

Posted by Salsa Kid : 6:43 PM 0 comments | permalink