What is generosity?

Want to feel generous this holiday season?

I met John Kissick recently and his story moved my heart.He might be on his late 40s and has recently started a new company. In this economy, starting a business means a lot. He didn't stop there, he told me that three years ago he was living on the streets with all that is involved around this circumstance.
One day, an stranger offered him a hand, not only in terms of shelter or food, this person offered him an opportunity to learn a way of standing up and walking in his own two feet.
Today, John has a dream. He is starting The Homeless Angels Foundation in Austin (homelessangelsnetwork.org website is under construction now) to give people on the streets an opportunity to learn, work and come back to the social structure.

After talking with him, I couldn't stop thinking, what does it means to be truly generous? The Merrian-Webster's dictionary says that a generous person is "characterized by a noble or forbearing spirit, liberal in giving, marked by abundance or ample proportions"
For Jonh Kissick, having been homeless will help him to understand those he wants to help and to develop successful strategies do to so.

As for the rest of us, there are many ways we can help.Maybe before buying gifts that we really don't care on giving but feel pressure to do; there is an alternative that would make us feel better.The alternative is GoodShop.JJ Ramberg, one of the founders of GoodShop told us that when you buy from brands or retailers that have made a commitment with GoodShop, you can determine a school or charity you would like to donate to. After your sale is done, they will donate up to 30% or your purchase to your cause.

They promise that you won't pay extra and what you spend will be reflected on your charity. You might even save money if you use their coupons and free shipping deals!
Some of the Yoga retailers that you will find are: Gaiam, Yoga Accessories.com, Paragon Sports, Sports Authority, Amazon (and more than 1,400 other retailers)
As for the non profits that are Texas based. Mr. Rangerg game some examples: Ananda Dallas Meditation and Yoga Center, The American Red Cross, The Nature Conservancy, The NRDC, American Heart Association, Kids Making A Difference (Texas), United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) - Greater Houston, Tiger Creek Wildlife Rescue (Texas), ASPCA. Mr. Ramberg mentioned that GoodShopwork work with more than 84,000 nonprofits

Next time you need to buy a present, check www.goodshop.com and feel good about buying here!And if you can't find what you are looking for, use GoodSearch. In this website, after you designate your favorite charity, just for looking around, they will donate a penny to their cause.To use GoodSearch1. go to www.goodsearch.com2. designate your favorite charity or school in the “Who do you GoodSearch for” box3. search as you normally would in the Yahoo powered search box. Each time you do a search, about a penny is donated to your cause

Enjoy the Holiday and feel good about it!
Rocio Morales

Compassion in action

Can't believe a week has passed so fast!

I went to San Francisco to help my sister settling in. She just arrived to study her PhD wit a little 6 years old. To say the least it is and overwhelming time for her. I hope that with a little more time things will improve for her and her daughter.
Whether my husband and I were trying to choose some furniture for her minuscule and very expensive (for Texas) studio, or lifting the mattress through an endless staircase, a thought kept coming to mind that Sri Goswami Kriyananda always remarks, "clarity of purpose is key to a happy life."

Before coming back to Austin I told her -if you really want this, you will have to wake up every morning and remember why you are here and that every day the goal will get closer to you.

But it is not easy as life usually isn't, dealing with so many details for her and her daughter has been a daunting task. On the brighter side she has found a wonderful group of people that has helped them unselfishly. They don't have much, most of them students as well that understand the challenge of studying having to provide and take care of a kid. They represent the true compassion in action, you give not what you have to spare, you give from your own time and resources because it is the right thing to do.

No doubt there are heroes everywhere, be grateful if you have found one of them and feel good about yourself if you are one of those special kind souls that lift our hearts and give us hope that regardless of the challenges, things settle down.

If you have a story about someone helping you at a hard time, share it with us.

Shanti,
Rocio