The Joy of Giving

Give yourself entirely to those around you. Be generous with your blessings. A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal. - Steve Maraboli

Hello Friends,

Thanks for your continued support and encouragement. This week I will celebrate ninety (90) days of blogging daily. I recognise that your time is precious and that I must compete with your other interests for your attention. For this reason I am committed to doing my best to ensure that my daily blogs are interesting, informative and uplifting for you. Your support is sincerely appreciated.

Today I would like to share with you joy of giving. On Friday I delivered approximately 1060 pounds of non-perishable food items to the Salvation Army of Brampton as part of my High Performance Leaders project titled HolidaySeason Food Drive. I was ecstatic when I made the delivery.

The mystery of giving revealed a truly fantastic feeling that words cannot begin to describe. I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment from the fact that I am contributing to the noble cause of the Salvation Army helping those in greater need than myself and my family. I am a firm believer that success and happiness is derived from doing the things that you are truly passionate. The level of contentment that is derived when you are able to put the interest of others before your personal interest is truly unbelievable.

The donation I made to the Salvation Army of Brampton last Friday was courtesy of Chosen Voices and Point of Tale Toastmasters Clubs at Loblaw in Mississauga, Ontario at President Choice Circle. Faraz Moin, the VP Public Relations of Point of Tale Toastmasters, led the food drive collection at Loblaw. He placed my posters in the kitchenettes all over the Loblaw’s building to promote my project. Through his efforts and assisted by Amparo Cifuentes and other of members of both clubs they collected over 1060lbs of non-perishable items. Today let us salute Faraz Moin, Amparo Cifuentes and the members of Chosen Voices and Point of Tale Toastmasters Clubs at Loblaw.

When we think of giving, it is easy to say that we don’t have enough so there is nothing that we can give to anyone. However, do we have time and skills that we can give? Can others benefit when we volunteer our time and skills? For example, I am using my time, communication and leadership skills to coordinate my Holiday Season Food Drive and as such I am enjoying the joy of giving. There are so many things we can all give to others that are less fortunate than us. If you believe you don’t have enough to give I would like to encourage you to try giving your time and skills and experience the joy of giving this Holiday Season.

With my Holiday Season Food Drive I realise that once you start something with a good heart there are so many people who are willing to help you succeed and achieve your goals. For example, last Saturday night my wife and I were special guest of Geoffery Simm and the members of Trillium Toastmasters Club’s party where they donated non-perishable food items. I also had the opportunity to deliver my speech titled “Leaders Leave Legacy” and at the end of my presentation Judy Martin, Sales Analyst at Give & Go Prepared Foods Corp offer to make a substantial contribution to my Holiday Season Food Drive. She said it was a pleasure listening to my “Leaders Leave Legacy” speech and that she could hear my passion for the project in my delivery.

The passion she heard was really the joy and sense of accomplishment I am getting from this project. The support I have received is overwhelming and as such I am already planning to make the Holiday Season Food Drive an annual event. This evening I will be guest speaker at Leaders’ Corner and Leaders in Action Toastmasters Clubs at Family Services of Peel Employment Ontario. On Wednesday I am also schedule to speak at Speak to Inspire in Brampton.

I am truly grateful for the support I have received the members of Toastmasters Clubs in the cities of Brampton and Mississauga. I started this project to accomplish a personal goal but it is evolving into something more because of the level of interest and support from members of the Toastmasters community.

You too can enjoy the joy of giving.

Mark McKenzie is a leading Subject Matter Expert in financial services regulation and supervision as well as a professional motivational speaker, corporate trainer and youth mentor.  He can be contacted by email mastbmckenzie@gmail.com or by telephone 647-406-4622. Read my blog http://mastbmckenzie.blogspot.ca/ and always write me a comment and share. Follow me on Twitter @mackynacky. Connect with me on www.youtube.com, Google+, Facebook and Linkedin.