Here is an excerpt of the piece written by Jessica Ravitz:

As I sat back and spent time some time today to reflect, I got a new perspective on:

- my professional commitments and planning

- my health and spirituality

- my family and other

These new insights gave me renewed energy and focus.

This time of reflection is a gift we can give ourselves!

At least once a week, if not more often, it would be great to pause and reflect on your life and experience the power of giving to oneself.

We went to Ambleside in West Vancouver, B.C. for a family picnic yesterday.

I have lived in Vancouver 29 years and have been to Ambleside quite a number of times. I always felt it was a nice place to go. However, today I saw a different side to it - breath taking beauty and majesty! This made me feel gentle and more giving to my family and close ones.

What changed? It could be because I walked towards an area that I had never gone before. Or, it could be that I was more relaxed and open to take in the beauty?

Being authentic is powerful!  It reflects your true self - with all its beauty, grace and wisdom.

Everyone's inner self is pure.  It connects to all creation, not just other humans.  The inner spirit is what unites us.

Khalil Gibran says, "You give little when you give of your possessions, it is when you give of yourself, that you truly give."  True giving thus begins with authenticity.

Feeling happy for other's success is a sign of a great giver.

Wish unto others what you wish for yourself is a mantra that will lead you to happiness, peace and success.

People who feel miserable about others' success have a hard time being happy with life.

Everyone is fighting their own battle, and when success comes to them it is a relief and usually an outcome of hard work.

The key to remember is their success is not at your expense and does not take away anything from your life.

Rejoicing in other's victory is an act of giving.

How about you?

My Dad turned 81 the other day. This is a note I sent him:

Dearest Dad,

You have been a great father, grandfather and role model;
You have spent your life serving the family and mankind;
Your life is not only a successful life, but also a significant one;
Every time I meet people who know you, they have nothing but great admiration for your character and dedication;
You have trusted your children unconditionally, giving them a sound foundation;
I am very fortunate and grateful for having you as my dad;
Thank you and I love you;

The sun, the earth, the water and whole of nature keep giving without any conditions. It does not expect anything back.

Giving is inherent in nature, and so it is supposed to be in humans.  When we give unconditionally we become one with nature and feel harmony with our surroundings.

As someone who is interested in giving you probably have heard this quote below:

“If you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way."
     - Buddha (563 BC - 483 BC)

I only heard this about a year after Azim and I wrote The Power of Giving. But it eloquently states that basic principle that the more you know about giving, the more you want to share.

America’s poor and lower-income earners give more on a percentage basis than those in higher-income groups. They tend to keep up their giving in tough economic times, according to McClatchy Newspapers.

This is a trend I've personally seen in the many non-profits my company works with. Higher dollar donors have cut back more than donors who give between $25 and $250. An obvious reason is that people who are poorer have not seen their investments decimated. And the psychological factors related to giving are affected by fear and loss.

I had gone for surgery on May 14 at UBC hospital.

I met with an administrative assistant who went through the basics - care card, identification, procedure.

This was followed by a meeting with the nurse who helped with the intravenous and other medical formalities.

Then I met with the trainee, who explained the anesthesia options, followed by the anaesthetist who clarified few things.