Giving & Receiving

Experiencing the joy and love of giving and receiving.

The LifeExcellence R&D Team

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Table of Contents:

1. Baby Steps
2. Feature Article: Giving and Receiving
3. Quotes
4. Recommended Resources
5. Self-Care: Garlic
6. Make a Difference: Toys for Tots
7. Final Thoughts: Guy Kawasaki's Karmic Code

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1. Baby Steps

It's the thought that counts when we give to others, and receive
from them. I'm glad that we think of others during this holiday
season. May we share the love and joy in our hearts with others
today, and every day!

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2. Feature Article: GIVING AND RECEIVING

It's December (already!), the holiday season. Many of us have
already started to think about giving and receiving, in relationship
to holiday gifts. We're making our lists, both of what we want, and
what we want to give to our family members and friends.

Giving is something that comes naturally to most of us, especially
during this time of year. We give material gifts during the holidays.
We give of our time, serving in soup kitchens on Thanksgiving, or
singing Christmas carols at a convalescent home. We give of our
money, so that all children might receive gifts, and so that
homeless people might have gloves or blankets.

I love that the season inspires us to give. I'm not sure why we are
more inclined to give during this time of year. Maybe it's because
we're already in the "giving mode" related to the holiday season. Or
maybe we are more apt to think about those less fortunate than us,
given that we receive so many material gifts during this time of year.

I wonder what life would be like if we gave like this all the time. I'm
not suggesting that we shower each other with material gifts year
round. But what if we gave small gifts throughout the year to people
who make a difference in our lives? What if we gave of our time and
money to people and organizations that need both year-round, not
just during the holidays? What if we hugged more people when they
looked like they needed one? Or complimented our partners, our co-
workers, and even strangers on their appearance? What if we praised
our staff, our family and others we encounter for their achievements,
their behavior or their work?

Just as we must learn to give, we must also learn to receive. For
some of us this comes easy---children are pretty good at it! For
others, though, it is not as easy to receive. We can fall into the trap
of feeling like we don't deserve the gift. Or we then feel indebted to
the gift-giver, and will be until we give something in return. Or even
that the gift isn't "good enough."

As we give gifts to others--whether material gifts, or compliments,
or time, or money, or praise--we are really giving love. And so it is
when others are giving gifts to us. By receiving, we accept the joy
and love given to us by the giver. It is very important that we allow
others to give, so that they, too, can experience the joy and love of
giving.

It really is the thought that counts. And I'm so glad that we think of
others, and of giving, and of receiving during this time of year. May
we carry this love and joy in our hearts throughout the year, both
giving freely to others, and receiving freely from them.

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3. Quotes

It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked,
through understanding.
Kahlil Gibran

The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your
riches, but to reveal to him his own.
Benjamin Disraeli

To receive a present handsomely and in a right spirit, even when
you have none to give in return, is to give one in return.
Leigh Hunt

Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones
surround us every day.
Sally Koch

We love those people who give with humility, or who accept with ease.
Freya Stark

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4. Recommended Resources

The LifeExcellence Motivational Screensaver

For those of you who haven't downloaded our screensaver yet, I
invite you to do so today! First, it's FREE, and second, it's COOL!

The screensaver contains a collection of over 100 awesome
motivational quotes and 30 scenic photos! You can download it
here, or from our website. Install it on your PC at home and work,
and forward it to your friends, family and business associates!

Journals

What do Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, Leonardo da Vinci all
have in common? They all used journals and notebooks to record
their ideas and inspirations. They recognized the value of combining
their thoughts and ideas into a single source.

Journaling can be used to record ideas, a record of your life, or
things that you're grateful for. By keeping it near you at all times,
you can quickly record thoughts that flash through your mind.

Whether you use a leather bound journal, a spiral notebook, or
something in between, journaling will change your life, and also
contribute to the legacy that you create. Start journaling today!

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5. Self-Care: GARLIC

What reduces cholesterol, blocks cancer, fights infection and causes
really bad breath? Garlic! Fortunately, you can enjoy the benefits
without being overcome by the side effect ... or overcoming anyone
else.

Studies have confirmed that garlic reduces blood cholesterol. In
addition, it prevents LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) from oxidizing,
a process that initiates plaque buildup on artery walls, which can
lead to clogging, heart attack and stroke.

Much research shows that garlic also contains many chemicals that
block cancer of every type, including breast, liver and colon. Finally,
studies have found garlic to kill viruses responsible for colds and the
flu, act as a decongestant, and rev up the immune system by
stimulating infection-fighting T-cells.

Maybe the best news is that these benefits result from eating raw
garlic, and also by taking garlic supplements. P.S. Make sure you
get the coated ones!

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6. Make a Difference

Toys for Tots

The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is the
Marine Corps' premier community action program. It is also the
only charitable endeavor within the Department of Defense which
reaches outside the military establishment to give something back
to the communities from which the nation draws the young men
and women who wear the uniforms of the armed services of the
United States.

Over the past 53 years, the U.S. Marines have distributed over
272,000,000 toys to 133,000,000 needy children throughout the
nation. Last year, local campaigns were conducted in 350
communities covering all 50 states, the District of Columbia and
Puerto Rico. Local Toys for Tots coordinators distributed 15.8
million toys to 6.3 million needy children (2 million more toys
and 400,000 more children than the best previous campaign).

Toys for Tots began in 1947 when Major Bill Hendricks, USMCR
and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles, California
collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children.

For more information about Toys for Tots, click here.

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7. Final Thoughts: GUY KAWASAKI'S KARMIC CODE

Kawasaki, of Apple and Garage.com fame, offers the following
words of wisdom:

1. Ignore people's current status in life. Some people only take care
of people who are already successful, and ignore anyone at a level
beneath them. That's narrow-minded thinking because you never
know when the little people will get lucky.

2. Help people whose help you don't need. Don't just do things
because you think you'll get something out of it.

3. Focus on the little things. Send handwritten thank-you notes. Buy
baby gifts. Those simple acts of kindness are repaid by the bucketfuls.

4. Never think of the world as a zero-sum game. Don't think that
someone else's good luck will take luck away from you. There is
infinite good luck in the world.

5. Pay back society. Whether it's tithing at church or contributing to
charity, someone is keeping score up there. When you pay back, it
comes back to you.

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Thank you for reading the LifeExcellence Newsletter.
Have a great week!
- Brian Bartes

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